REQUEST marks Pride Month in Kazakhstan in a context where LGBTQIA+ people continue to face growing legal, political, and social pressure.

Since 2 March 2026, Kazakhstan has enforced a ban on so-called “LGBT propaganda.” At the same time, the country still lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation and effective mechanisms to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Even in discussions of new legislative initiatives, issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity are often excluded, avoided, or treated as too controversial to address. As a result, people who already face stigma, violence, pressure, and legal vulnerability remain without proper recognition and protection.

For REQUEST, Pride Month is not only about visibility. It is about the right to safety, dignity, equal treatment, and access to protection. It is about people whose lives should not depend on political circumstances, moral panic, or harmful stereotypes.

LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights. Equality cannot be selective. Safety should not depend on identity. Dignity belongs to everyone.