QUEERathon Graduates Implement Projects for LGBT Community in EECA Countries

From October 28 to November 3, 2024, the Activist QUEERathon: Decrim Editions took place — a unique online school organized by ECOM for aspiring activists from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). This year, as part of the third QUEERathon, participants from 26 countries gained knowledge and practical skills for working in the field of LGBT human rights advocacy. An important part of the program was presenting their own projects aimed at supporting decriminalization and improving the situation of LGBT people in the region.

We are proud that many of these projects are already being implemented! In December and January, our graduates brought their ideas to life, contributing to the advancement of LGBT rights and safety in EECA countries. We want to share the most remarkable and significant initiatives implemented by QUEERathon graduates.

As part of the project, a two-day training session was organized for the LGBT community on the topic of decriminalization as a self-protection tool. The training was held offline and attracted 18 participants. The program included practical sessions that allowed participants to master important self-protection tools and learn how to apply them in everyday life. One of the participants shared: "It's very important to feel that I'm not alone." In the future, the organizers plan to hold two more training sessions on similar topics, as requests from the community continue to come in.

From December 20 to 22, a legal camp was held to raise the participants' awareness about human rights and recent developments in the field of rights violations.

The program included practical training on human rights for LGBT people, as well as an introduction to online resources, such as the eotinish.kz portal, a platform for submitting appeals to government authorities. During the camp, participants learned how to analyze legal cases and develop an action plan to raise awareness and protect their rights at the local level.

As a result of the project, a support chat was created, which will continue to serve as a space for sharing experiences and coordinating further work. Participants expressed their willingness to share their knowledge with other community representatives in their regions, which has immense importance given the current threats to LGBT rights in Kazakhstan.

The Cortes project within the shyraqmedia.qz initiative was aimed at raising political awareness among young people, including the LGBT community. During its implementation, 20 materials were created, including posts, video reviews and interactive sessions, reaching over 9,000 people. The campaign used various formats to engage young audiences, including explaining the fundamentals of politics and analyzing leadership qualities through examples from anime and iconic works.

To foster deeper engagement, a Telegram group was created, which became an important platform for discussing ideas and sharing experiences among activists. As a result, the project not only raised awareness but also inspired participants to become more actively involved in Kazakhstan’s political processes.

On December 21, 2024, the first virtual exhibition of queer artists from Uzbekistan was launched as part of the Now We’re Talking! project. Initially conceived as part of a conversation club for queer people, it soon grew into a public event, becoming an important space for dialogue and advocacy for the LGBT community. The exhibition featured 97 art objects from 5 artists, available in Uzbek, Russian and English.

The main goal of the exhibition was to create a safe space for queer artists who face censorship and restrictions on expressing their identities in Uzbekistan. Hosted on the Spatial platform, the virtual exhibition allowed queer artists to anonymously and safely display their works without censorship. Future plans include expanding the exhibition and involving new artists to build a dynamic and continuously evolving platform.

In December 2024, a human rights training course for the LGBT community was implemented, which included a series of workshops. One of the most interesting events was a three-hour workshop on art activism led by Bauyrzhan Alipbayev. Participants explored various forms of art activism, from performances to memes, and then created their own artworks under restrictive conditions. This exercise helped them understand that art can be a powerful tool for drawing attention to important issues.

Another significant event was a workshop dedicated to the privacy and rights of LGBT people conducted by Meruert Shakirova, lawyer and acting director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law branch. Meruert educated participants on how to protect their rights in case of violations and provided valuable guidance on where to seek help.

The Queer-Fem* Zine Kazakhstan project is aimed at creating a space for queer women and women activists who can share their experiences through writing. As part of the project, an Instagram account was launched, an open call for authors was announced, and co-writing sessions were held. One of the most interesting aspects of the project was the hand-made printed edition of the zine. This decision preserved the spirit of samizdat (self-publishing) without resorting to printing services, which made the project more autonomous and safe.

The project also became an excellent platform for networking, where participants shared experiences and supported each other, creating an atmosphere of trust and mutual assistance. For example, co-writing sessions showed that many women writers in Kazakhstan lack such a space for creativity and exchanging experiences. During the meetings, participants felt support and were inspired for further development.

The QueerAdopt project covers important events in the Queer Rights Talks series, aimed at raising awareness of LGBT issues in countries where these rights are criminalized. One of the most significant events was an online discussion held on December 6, 2024, which brought together 20 participants from Central Asia and Eastern Europe. This event became important for discussing resistance strategies against repressive laws and sharing experiences in LGBT rights protection.

A milestone event was the VI Queer Rights Talk, held on December 10, 2024 in Astana. The event included workshops, discussions and presentations of successful advocacy practices, including the organization of advocacy through the UN Universal Periodic Review Council. Special attention was given to adapting international experience to the Kazakhstani context and developing strategies to counter potential LGBT criminalization in 2025.

In addition, the key moment was a performance by drag artist Zhanna Icon, which symbolized unity and solidarity within the community. The events of the QueerAdopt project also led to the creation of a document with recommendations and strategies to prevent the criminalization of LGBT people in Kazakhstan.

We are proud of each of our graduates, whose efforts create space for change, support and strengthen communities, contributing to the fight for equality and justice. These projects are powerful examples of how activism and solidarity can overcome any obstacles. We are confident that their work will continue to inspire and open new horizons for future generations of activists.