Week of IDAHOT action in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s Labrys to welcome May 17 with a week of events, including arts competition, press briefing and the “rainbow weekend” with film screening, picnic, “write a letter to a MP” action and a mountain “Encounter” game.

LGBTIQA organisation Labrys will be the host of a chain of IDAHOT 2014 events on May 14, 16, 17 and 18.
On March 26, 2014 two members of the Kyrgyz parliament initiated a draft law banning propaganda of “non-traditional sexual relations”, which is very similar to the Russian ‘anti-gay propaganda’ law. It has since then been registered in the Parliament, taken down for technical revisions, and re-registered in May. Owing to Russia’s dominance in the Kyrgyz information sphere, the level of homo- and transphobia in the country has risen sharply. With support of “Labrys”, a Coalition of civil society organisations for Justice and Non-discrimination has been organised, working on opposing the draft law since then.
In this context LGBTIQA organisation “Labrys” is organising a more downplayed contribution to the Kyrgyz Week Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – 2014, which consists of following events:
14 May
Announcement of “I exist! I am a citizen!” arts competition among LGBTIQ communities of Kyrgyzstan to be conducted from 14 May to 14 June 2014. One of the main goals of the competition is to offer an opportunity for LGBTIQA communities to express their civic position in conditions of increasing homophobia and transphobia in the country and to also politicise and inspire LGBTIQA activities of Kyrgyzstan to join our activism.
16 May
Press release on IDAHOT-2014, explaining the history and significance of the day, history of the LGBTIQA movement in Kyrgyzstan, current situation and activities of “Labrys”.
Press briefing for journalists, organised as part of the Coalition’s efforts to combat the homophobic draft law. The briefing aims at increasing awareness of journalists about the draft law’s inconsistency with Kyrgyzstan’s international human rights commitments, provide a political, psychological, sociological, conflictological analysis of the draft law, and to generally engage with journalists on the issue of covering LGBTI issues in the Kyrgyz media.
17-18 May
“Rainbow weekend” series of events for the LGBTIQA communities.
On 17 May, there will be a day-long programme at “Labrys” office with film screenings, a picnic, and “Write a letter to an MP” action – where participants can express their opinions and feelings regarding the homophobic draft law, tell their stories from life, and otherwise engage with the politicians.
On 18 May, a day-long mountain “Encounter” game for LGBTIQA communities in a beautiful canyon two hours drive from capital city Bishkek with barbecue and plov.
You can visit Labrys website for more details on the action and their work.