On March, 1, we have launched Kok.team – informational and analytical web portal about gays, lesbians and bisexuals in Kazakhstan. This independent platform is to publish articles dedicated to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and issues they face in their everyday lives, and relevant researches.
There is a number of reasons behind this project. The population in Kazakhstan, as well as globally, includes 7-10 % of representatives of alternative sexual orientation, which comprises up to 1,5 million people of all ages. At the same time, this group of people did not have a specialized internet-based resource that would publish interesting and relevant information.
There certainly is a big number of foreign information resources, including those in Russian; however, we believe that Kazakhstan community has its own issues and peculiarities.
Moreover, in 25 years of country’s independence there has not been a single resource that would present information of this kind in Kazakh language. All this time Kazakh-speaking LGB citizens have had no access to information about hygiene, social and psychological problems. The editorial staff of Kok.team project aspires to bridge this gap and thereby welcomes any LGB materials in the Kazakh language.
Another reason for starting the project is our understanding of how isolated and disintegrated the homosexuals and bisexuals in Kazakhstan are, which seems to be the major issue. Human rights advocacy, overcoming homophobia, and distributing information are only possible provided there is a community of people with shared goals and values. Kok.team intends to become such a platform to unite all those individuals who strongly believe that LGB rights are human rights and should be respected by everyone.
The project is being developed by a group of volunteer and is not sponsored by any organization.
*Kok.team sounds like kazakh word "көктем" which means spring. 'Kok.team келді' sounds like spring is coming