"We are lesbians and we have rights": a conversation with Gulzada Serzhan (Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative "Feminita")

What do we talk about, when we talk about alliances and solidarity between the LGBTI and the feminist movements?

The words of Gulzada Serzhan, co-founder of Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative "Feminita" and guest on the latest episode of ILGA World's Making Rainbow Waves podcast, explain it very clearly: "In my opinion, hate against the LGBTIQ community and misogyny have similar features backed by a patriarchal society. Therefore, we put ourselves as a part of a feminist movement." On the occasion of this year's International Women Day, these words must be heard louder than ever.

We met Gulzada as her organisation prepares to follow up on the important recommendation obtained by the UN Committee Against Torture, where her advocacy highlighted the human rights situation of LGBTI detainees. Together, we went over Gulzada's journey as an activist, the current situation of the LGBTI community in Kazakhstan and the region more broadly, and why it is important to engage grassroots communities about recommendations and advances obtained at the international level.

ACCESSIBILITY: A transcription of the episode, and its translation to Spanish, are available on ILGA World's website at https://ilga.org/podcast-making-rainbow-waves-1x06-feminist-initiative-feminita-kazakhstan

"These recommendations are in a very official language," she told us. "So we try to explain them in a very friendly way in our meetings. I think it gives (the community) some confidence" if you explain "what those recommendations mean, why it is important for us, how it works, and what you can do to use those changes in your life."

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