In Uzbekistan, where homosexuality is illegal, LGBTQ+ people must hide to survive
For this community, no public space is safe
By GV Central Asia and Caucasus
Uzbekistan is one of the few remaining countries in post-Soviet Central Asia where homosexual acts between consenting adults are still punishable by law . Those found guilty can be sentenced to up to three years in prison. Uzbek society, deeply shaped by pre-modern Persian culture, has a rich history of same-sex love and its poetic representations . However, under Russian and later Soviet domination of the country in the 20th century, same-sex relations were made a criminal offence. When Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, its government did not amend those laws.
Today, aggressive homophobia is part of the country’s mainstream discourse. It has been openly endorsed by government officials , religious leaders (Muslim and Russian Orthodox alike), as well as numerous internet users, who call not only for the arrest, but also the murder of LGBTQ+ people. This climate of fear has severe consequences for the community, for whom no public space is safe. Sometimes, LGBTQ+ Uzbeks are forced to become sex workers or coerced into helping the police to denounce their peers. When they are , the perpetrators face light penalties or no penalties at all. And that’s if they’re even identified.
Global Voices interviewed one of the very few LGBTQ+ activists in Uzbekistan, who provide legal and psychological support to a deeply underground community.
For security reasons, the activist’s name has been omitted. This interview has been edited for brevity.
Global Voices (GV): What are the main factors behind the widespread and mainstream homophobia in Uzbekistan today?
Bohodir: The main reason for homophobia in Uzbek society is the Islamic faith, which that claims that “besoqolboz” (people of non-traditional sexual orientations) should be killed. Many uneducated Uzbeks do not understand that Uzbekistan is a secular state, and see nothing wrong in openly calling for the killing of LGBT people, mostly on social media. They remain unpunished and unafraid, given that homosexuality is still a crime under the criminal code as per Article 120.
Lately, homophobia has been on the rise. Several homophobic channels [on social media] have appeared and publish private information about LGBT people, including photos and also passport data in some cases.
The second reason for homophobia is the law, which makes the government homophobic. Some people state that although Article 120 exists, it is not actually applied. But four months ago, two men were under that very law. The existence of Article 120 creates an environment in which human rights are violated and crimes go unpunished. Members of law enforcement agencies also blackmail people under this law, torture them, submit them to moral degradation and threaten to out them to their relatives and employers.
GV: What strategies do members of the LGBTQ+ community use to survive in such an environment?
B: It is very difficult to develop a spirit of solidarity in such a homophobic society. An internalised homophobia is constantly at play. S ome try to find refuge in Islam, other turn into homophobic gays and become a serious threat to other LGBT people. Others just end their lives by committing suicide.
There are many stereotypes of the LGBT community, including accusations of abusing underage children, or causing the extinction of the Uzbek nation.
Fearing that they will be found out, many lesbians and gays enter [heterosexual] marriages against their will, due to pressure from their families. After some time, when their sexual orientation is eventually discovered, they get divorced or maintain a double life.
GV: Given what you describe, can anything be done to support the community?
(B) It is absolutely necessary to establish a foundation for projects and new initiatives. To create a website in order to disseminate information to improve the quality of life of LGBT people. At the moment, criminals and homophobic gays have won the community’s trust and control all the dating platforms and channels about LGBT issues in Uzbekistan. A huge number of people are at risk because of that. As they are afraid, LGBT people often say that everything is alright, because they don’t know where to go for support.
GV: Are there any signs that Uzbek society might become more tolerant and inclusive in the long term?
B: First, we need educational events for those who work with the community; we need to form groups of volunteers who can help develop forms of activism. We need to constantly monitor all hate crimes based on sexual orientation. We need to alert international human rights organis ations, based on this monitoring, about hate crimes and hatred towards LGBT people.
But we also need to strengthen trust between LGBT people and the rest of society. People need to trust us, there are simply not enough of us to do all the activism which needs to be done. For example, given that the law describes us as criminals, we have no way to raise the issue on the legislative level.
Some activists are psychologists who are able to help members of the LGBT community who are victims of violence or discrimination.
Other activists work in public healthcare services and inform the LGBT community about HIV, help them access AIDS centres. Nevertheless, very few members of the community know about that.
If we remain silent, then we approve of all the crimes, discrimination, and violence.
Originally published at https://globalvoices.org on November 27, 2019.
