The United States has criticized
proposed legislation which seeks to outlaw “popularizing homosexual
relations” in the former Soviet nation of Kyrgyzstan.
If the changes are approved, a person
convicted of “forming a positive attitude to untraditional sexual
relations” among minors or in mass media would face fines or a
prison term of up to one year, according to Reuters.
The U.S. embassy in Kyrgyzstan
responded in a statement: “No one should be silenced or imprisoned
because of who they are or whom they love. Laws that discriminate
against one group of people threaten the fundamental rights of all
people.”
“Sweeping limits on civil society
harm democracy,” the embassy added.
Rights activists last week called on
the administration of President Barack Obama to publicly condemn the
proposed legislation. The U.S.-based Human Rights First called the
bill “blatantly homophobic.”
Anti-gay activists meeting in Moscow
last month called for greater adoption of a Russian law which outlaws
the promotion of “homosexual propaganda” to minors.
(Related: Moscow
forum sends out urgent appeal for more “gay propaganda” bans.)