TGEU Countries: Kyrgyzstan Participants at the Labrys Trans Camp at Issyk-Kul Lake in August 2014 Photo flashmob #supportLGBTkg to support LGBTIQ communities and activists of Kyrgyzstan in their fight against the anti-LGBTIQ bill (more pictures available: http://www.labrys.kg/en/media/ gallery/full/11.html) Another training session, this time for lawyers, was or- to file reports or turn to law-enforcement agencies due ganised in August 2015. The training involved 15 law- to the increasingly hostile environment. yers who were either state attorneys or private prac- + 48 + “People who are often exposed to danger, especially which Labrys has been able to increase the visibility of transgender people, face constant discrimination even in trans issues. Some participants at the trans camp also the process of trying to seek redress for discrimination. shared their stories, which have also been documented. Victims of verbal or physical violence are forced to One of the incidents shared by a participant at the trans endure psychological violence and humiliation from camp was successfully litigated, which has contributed titioners. One of the participants was a lawyer from On 26 March 2014, two members of Kyrgyzstan’s Su- law-enforcement bodies from the moment they file a to an increase in the number of complaints filed and the Kazakhstan who is currently fighting a case against the preme Council introduced a draft law that would impose report. There is also a high degree of distrust towards community’s readiness to report discriminato- illegal firing of a trans-man police officer. A legal trans- administrative and criminal penalties for the “creation of governmental agencies within the communities”. rights expert from Russia was invited to the training a positive attitude towards non-traditional sexual rela- Representative of the LGBTIQ platform of Kyrgyzstan session. Participants at the event were provided with tions” in the media or in public. The bill was registered in general information about gender identity and legisla- the Supreme Council for consideration on 15 April with- Labrys employed a new team member in 2013 to im- more about the types of community support that Labrys tive regulations regarding legal change of gender, and out a due period of public discussion. Although the bill was prove its outreach strategy. This outreach worker, a can provide for the LGBTIQ communities. One of the pos- the training focused mainly on real cases, as well as the withdrawn on 23 April for technical reasons, an updated transgender person himself, managed to reach out to itive outcomes of the trans camp was the increased num- practices of more experienced lawyers. version of the bill, with another member of parliament new people who were unaware of the organisation and ber of volunteers willing to be affiliated with Labrys, some of whom later came to be employed at the organisation. ry and violent incidents. Furthermore, the trans camp helped participants learn (MP) joining the list of initiators, was registered – without the support it provides to the community. So far, Labrys A bill to criminalise the promotion of LGBTIQ rights, any prior public discussion, thus breaking the Supreme remains the only organisation that provides services known as the Gay Propaganda Bill, was presented be- Council’s own regulations. The bill is currently being stud- such as assistance in obtaining the official documents Labrys provides medical and psychological support to fore Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Supreme Council, in ied by a parliamentary committee. Numerous reports necessary to change one’s name and gender, begin hor- the victims of violence. Legal support is always provid- March 2014, and it posed one of the main challenges indicate that a majority of MPs support the bill, which vi- mone therapy and obtain other medical support. ed to victims, if they want it. Labrys also assisted a vic- faced by Labrys during the ProTrans implementation olates the Kyrgyz Constitution and the country’s interna- period. The bill resulted in an increase in violence and tional human-rights obligations. Many MPs are in favour The outreach worker reached out to new people, who of whom were themselves police officers. The report discrimination against trans people in the country. Fur- of harsher punishment for “homosexual propaganda” and eagerly shared their personal stories, including cases of resulted in monetary compensation for the victim, who thermore, community members are usually not willing recriminalising homosexuality. discrimination, violence and hate crimes, as a result of was fully satisfied by the outcome. tim in filing a police report against perpetrators, some + 49 +