KAZAKHSTAN: Lawmaker Proposes Bill To Recriminalize Homosexuality

Kazakhstan, which has already seen an attempt to copy Russia's ban on "homosexual propaganda," might be taking things a step further.

Kazakhstan’s Parliament deputy Bakhytbek Smagul has suggested drafting a law to ban same-sex relationships in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports from the plenary meeting of the Majilis (lower chamber of the Parliament). “I believe it necessary not only to enhance the article 11 of the Family Code (persons not allowed to marry), but also to develop a draft law eradicating same-sex relations, and close the nightclubs everywhere,” Smagul read out his address to Kazakhstan Prime-Minister Serik Akhmetov. According to the MP, several countries that “set traditional family relations a priority in their state policies” have already adopted laws banning same-sex relations because the latter are not part of their national mentalities. “These are Afghanistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Russia also intends to adopt such law,” he said.

While relatively sparsely populated, Kazakhstan is the largest of the former Soviet republics and is about twice the size of Alaska. (Via Gay Star News)