Uzbekistan

Demographics

Estimated Total Population:

33.58 million

World Bank, 2019

Estimated SGM Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated Total SGM Adult Population:

N/A

N/A

Estimated % of SGM Adults (18+):

N/A

N/A

Uzbekistan is not a safe place for LGBTQ+ individuals. It remains one of the few former Soviet states that criminalizes homosexuality between men (Anything 1), with the government openly attacking homosexuality. Public space is considered unsafe, where identification as LGBTQ+ identifying might force you into helping the police for a lighter sentence or might even risk one to harm (In Uzbekistan 1), with some stories highlighting what is thought to be government sanctioned murders (Latipov 1). Between vigilante groups, the “morality police”, the regular police, and others all targeting LGBTQ+ identifying individuals (Latipov 1), it is no surprise the aggressively homophobic culture recently told the UN that they would not budge on gay rights (Anything 1).

Uzbekistan's Laws and Policies from ILGA World Report (2019)

RECOGNITION
Marriage for Same-Sex Couples
No
Civil Unions
No
Joint Adoption
No
Second Parent Adoption
No
PROTECTION
Employment Nondiscrimination Laws
No
Broad Protections
No
Criminalization of Violence
No
Ban of Conversion Therapy
No
CRIMINALIZATION
Consensual Same-Sex Acts are Legal?
No
Gender
Male
Max Penalty (Yrs in Prison)
3

Selected Published Studies, Reports, and Other Documents

Bozicevic, I, et al. Sexually Transmitted Infections, vol. 85, no. 5, 2009, doi:85:336-342

Central Asian Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Network, Sept. 2017, www.upr-info.org/sites/default/files/document/ouzbekistan/session_30_-_mai_2018/cagsan_upr30_uzb_e_main.pdf

Human Rights and Sexual Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans People in Uzbekistan. Central Asian Gender and Sexuality Advocacy Network, May 2015, www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1018087/1930_1437044642_int-ccpr-css-uzb-20794-e.pdf

Latypov, Alisher. “Prohibition, Stigma and Violence against Men Who Have Sex with Men: Effects on HIV in Central Asia.” Central Asian Survey, vol. 32, no. 1, 7 Mar. 2013, pp. 52–65., doi:10.1080/02634937.2013.768059

Wilkinson, Cai. “LGBT Rights in the Former Soviet Union.” The Oxford Handbook of Global LGBT and Sexual Diversity Politics, by Michael J. Bosia et al., Oxford University Press, 2020, pp. 233–244.

Wolfe, D, et al. “HIV in Central Asia: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.” Public Health Aspects of HIV/AIDS in Low and Middle Income Countries , 2008, pp. 557–581.