Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: Gay Matchmakg and Culture

Contents:

• BEG GAY IN KAZAKHSTAN: "IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD"LGBT CIZENS OF THE UNTRY REPORT LIVG A "NSTANT STATE OF FEAR." {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY ADAM SALANDRASEPTEMBER 5, 2016/1:17 PMBY ADAM SALANDRASEPTEMBER 5, 2016 / 1:17 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BEG GAY IN KAZAKHSTAN: \"IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-09-05T17:17:50.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-09-05T17:17:50.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ADAM SALANDRA","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN KAZAKHSTAN PLACED A BID TO HOST THE 2022 OLYMPICS, GAVE HOPE TO THE CENTRAL ASIAN UNTRY'S LGBT MUNY, WHO KNEW WOULD DRAW ATTENTN TO THE DISCRIMATN AND HARASSMENT THEY ROUTELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ULTIMATELY, THE NATN LOST THE BID, AND WH THE PROSPECT OF KAZAKHSTAN FACG ANY TERNATNAL PRSURE TO CHANGE S HOMOPHOBIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN WE WERE THERE, LGBT PEOPLE KAZAKHSTAN TOLD ME ABOUT THE NSTANT STATE OF FEAR THEY LIVE ," SAID KYLE KNIGHT, A REARCHER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY WAS CRIMALIZED KAZAKHSTAN 1998, BUT THE LGBT MUNY STILL LIV SILENCE. POLICE ROUTELY IGNORE GANG ATTACKS ON GAY MEN, AND DOCTORS OFTEN REFE TO TREAT THE VICTIMS..{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DANCE TEACHER ARMAN BIMA SAYS THAT MOST GAY MEN KAZAKHSTAN ARE CLOSETED, BELIEVG WILL PROTECT THEM OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY REPEAT THE THGS THAT SAY, 'NO, WHY I SHOULD SAY TO EVERYONE I AM GAY? IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD.' BUT 'S NOT TE. EVERYONE HAS THE PROBLEM," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRANS PEOPLE SUFFER EVEN MORE—KAZAKHSTANI LAWS MAKE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THEIR GENR ON OFFICIAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRANS ACTIVIST TIM SHENKER BELIEV THE BIGGT PROBLEM IS THAT HIS UNTRYMEN DON'T UNRSTAND THE NCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY DON'T RE FOR THEIR OWN RIGHTS," SHENKER SAYS. "THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS, SO OF URSE THEY DON'T THK ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H/T: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• ELSKA – NEW BOOK EXPLORES GAY LIFE IN KAZAKHSTAN WITH INTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL STORYTELLING
• ALEXANR ABRAMOV ON THE REALY OF GAY LIFE RSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN
• KAZAKHSTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN: GAY MATCHMAKG AND CULTURE

BEG GAY IN KAZAKHSTAN: "IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD"LGBT CIZENS OF THE UNTRY REPORT LIVG A "NSTANT STATE OF FEAR." {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY ADAM SALANDRASEPTEMBER 5, 2016/1:17 PMBY ADAM SALANDRASEPTEMBER 5, 2016 / 1:17 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BEG GAY IN KAZAKHSTAN: \"IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD\"","DATEPUBLISHED":"2016-09-05T17:17:50.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2016-09-05T17:17:50.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ADAM SALANDRA","KEYWORDS":"TERNATNAL","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN KAZAKHSTAN PLACED A BID TO HOST THE 2022 OLYMPICS, GAVE HOPE TO THE CENTRAL ASIAN UNTRY'S LGBT MUNY, WHO KNEW WOULD DRAW ATTENTN TO THE DISCRIMATN AND HARASSMENT THEY ROUTELY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ULTIMATELY, THE NATN LOST THE BID, AND WH THE PROSPECT OF KAZAKHSTAN FACG ANY TERNATNAL PRSURE TO CHANGE S HOMOPHOBIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WHEN WE WERE THERE, LGBT PEOPLE KAZAKHSTAN TOLD ME ABOUT THE NSTANT STATE OF FEAR THEY LIVE ," SAID KYLE KNIGHT, A REARCHER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVY WAS CRIMALIZED KAZAKHSTAN 1998, BUT THE LGBT MUNY STILL LIV SILENCE. POLICE ROUTELY IGNORE GANG ATTACKS ON GAY MEN, AND DOCTORS OFTEN REFE TO TREAT THE VICTIMS..{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DANCE TEACHER ARMAN BIMA SAYS THAT MOST GAY MEN KAZAKHSTAN ARE CLOSETED, BELIEVG WILL PROTECT THEM OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY REPEAT THE THGS THAT SAY, 'NO, WHY I SHOULD SAY TO EVERYONE I AM GAY? IF YOU DO THIS SECRETLY, EVERYTHG IS GOOD.' BUT 'S NOT TE. EVERYONE HAS THE PROBLEM," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRANS PEOPLE SUFFER EVEN MORE—KAZAKHSTANI LAWS MAKE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE THEIR GENR ON OFFICIAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TRANS ACTIVIST TIM SHENKER BELIEV THE BIGGT PROBLEM IS THAT HIS UNTRYMEN DON'T UNRSTAND THE NCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS TO BEG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY DON'T RE FOR THEIR OWN RIGHTS," SHENKER SAYS. "THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RIGHTS, SO OF URSE THEY DON'T THK ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}H/T: {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Intro: There is very ltle reliable rmatn about gay life Kazakhstan on the ter, but here is one first-hand report om a former Peace Corps volunteer, Everett Peachey, that offers a small wdow to this huge former Soviet untry.

From: Lbian, Gay & Bisexual US Peace Corps Alumni. Regardg theGay Scene Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, I found the gay scene to be much more unrground and on a much smaller sle than Rsia.

The lol gay muni exist on a much smaller sle here, and this was evint even large urban centers like Karaganda (pop. There were a handful of people who were out Karaganda, and every new gay person I met knew everyone else I knew. One way that gay people munited was through the Inter.

ELSKA – NEW BOOK EXPLORES GAY LIFE IN KAZAKHSTAN WITH INTIMATE PHOTOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL STORYTELLING

When I first me to Karaganda, I met people who later beme iends on gay msage boards bee was the only way I uld meet gays Karaganda. In Kazakhstan the Inter is one of the few plac where gay people n meet. I found that many gay men Kazakhstan and Rsia unrstand their sexualy only terms of sex.

Many of the married men seek sexual release om gay iends (many of whom are also married). He didn’t see a gay relatnship as a viable optn Kazakhstan, and th looked no further than sex.

ALEXANR ABRAMOV ON THE REALY OF GAY LIFE RSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN

By the way, to further illtrate the size and ternnectedns of the gay muny the former Soviet Unn, this man claimed to have seen me the prev year a gay club St.

KAZAKHSTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN: GAY MATCHMAKG AND CULTURE

Petersburg, and knew two of my gay iends om Mosw.