How did Altynay conduct her research?
In her dissertation, Altynay looked at LGBTQ+ activism in Kazakhstan. In 2023, she spent five months doing fieldwork in six cities: Astana, Almaty, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Pavlodar, and Öskemen. She interviewed 18 activists, took part in activist events, and studied reports and social media posts.
What are her main takeaways?
- Around the world, LGBTQ+ rights have become part of international politics. In the West, they are often seen as a sign of progress. Russia presents “traditional values” as the opposite. Kazakhstan is somewhere between these two worlds, and its LGBTQ+ activists have to find their way between them.
- My research shows that activists use, rework, and sometimes reinforce images of the West and Russia in their own work. How activists see these two worlds shapes what they define as problems, what solutions they seek, and how they organize their activism.
- So, my research shows that we need to look beyond the simple picture of a “progressive West” and a “traditional East”, and pay attention to the care and solidarity that queer communities are already creating.
- This research is especially relevant today. In December 2025, Kazakhstan passed a law that bans spreading information about “non-traditional sexual orientation”. Understanding how activists work under such pressure is more important than ever.
