Kazakhstan tightens LGBTQ propaganda laws amid growing restrictions in 2025
Kazakhstan's parliament, the Mazhilis, has been debating and passing laws related to LGBT law over the past year. The latest development occurred on November 29, 2025, when the parliament passed a bill in its second reading, restricting such propaganda.
The journey of these laws began last April when Mazhilis deputies proposed an amendment to ban LGBT propaganda in Kazakhstan. This was later revived in a draft law on archival affairs. The bill, passed in November, partially grants a petition from August that sought to protect minors from LGBT propaganda. Lawmakers have also proposed criminal liability for such propaganda, equating it with incitement to social discord.
Elnur Beisenbayev, a Mazhilis member, has clarified that while Kazakhstan's law bans LGBT propaganda, it does not target the expression of feelings. He explained that propaganda is defined by deliberate attempts to influence society and promote non-traditional relationships. Beisenbayev also emphasized that public displays of affection, such as men holding hands, do not constitute propaganda. However, the Law on Mass Media passed in April did not include deputies' proposals regarding LGBT propaganda.
The Mazhilis has shown a consistent stance against LGBT propaganda, with several bills and amendments proposed and passed over the past year. The latest bill, passed in November 2025, further restricts such propaganda, with lawmakers also proposing criminal liability. Despite these developments, the expression of feelings is not targeted by these laws, according to Mazhilis members.
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