Amnesty International says groups that defend LGBT rights are facing a rise in hostility in parts of the former Soviet Union, fueled by discrimination, homophobia, and what it called Russia's crusade against…
In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, homosexuality is still a crime punishable by a prison sentence. It’s not against the law in Tajikistan, but LGBT people have no legal protections and are sometimes subjected…
Women’s rights campaigners in Kyrgyzstan’s capital were assaulted by dozens of self-styled traditionalists on April 14 while holding a rally to call on the government to do more to combat gender-based violence.…
For the last 10 years, Lillya Ten has been dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTQI people in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia. She is currently the Executive Director of…
The final days of Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary election have seen a deployment of sinister dirty tricks that raise the suspicion that security services may be helping engineer the outcome. A short film that…
It started with headaches then came nausea and diarrhea. Within two weeks, gay Ugandan barber Eric had became so weak without his HIV medication he could not walk and had to be…
What many consider the first gay-pride march ever held in Central Asia has unleashed a storm of controversy in Kyrgyzstan, with threats of violence against participants, counterprotests, and fiery parliamentary debate over…
“We want to give a voice to those, who are not heard, whose voice has been taken,” Ali Feruz says. “Because the story of every human is at the same time the…
While much recent attention has been focused on the LGBT community in Chechnya and the wider North Caucasus, sexual minorities in Central Asia live under significant pressure as well. Russia’s 2013 law…
A bisexual man from Kyrgyzstan was forced to leave the country after suffering two homophobic attacks within the same month. The man, who is in his 20s, said the attacks took place…
Human Rights First (HRF) is an independent advocacy and action organization working with LGBTI leaders across the globe to guarantee that their voices are heard. HRF is committed to protecting the human rights of LGBTI persons and ensuring that they remain a foreign policy priority of the U.S. government.
Advocates for Youth is advancing the sexual health and rights of LGBTI youth in the developing world by strengthening the capacity of sustainable youth-led and youth-serving non-governmental organizations. Often there are limited spaces to organize and elevate issues that make LGBTI youth particularly vulnerable. Advocates has a network of 3,000 youth-led and youth-serving non-governmental organizations and activists from 96 countries and provides support in 40 countries.