Mountaineering Kyrgyz activist describes planting rainbow flags on Vladimir Putin Peak

Mountaineering Kyrgyz activist describes planting rainbow flags on Vladimir Putin Peak
The mountain was named after the Russian leader in 2011. / cc-by-sa 4.0
By bne IntelliNews June 12, 2024

Kyrgyz founder of “queer heroes” site Pink Summits Dastan Kasmamytov has told how he was part of an  expedition that planted rainbow flags on top of Vladimir Putin Peak, a mountain in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range.

Describing the expedition, Berlin-based Kasmamytov told Queerty: “We also went to the Peak of Putin. We wanted to plant our rainbow flags there. I’m quite often in Kyrgyzstan, and I’m going back there. We also organized community Pride hikes there. This is an event, because unfortunately, it’s not easy to be gay [in Kyrgyzstan] and there aren’t any community events at all for gay people. This is a small Pride. There are no Pride events in Kyrgyzstan, and this is an alternative Pride for locals.”

Kasmamytov says he’s on a mission to provide LGBTQ+ visibility by climbing the highest mountains in each continent.

He regards Kyrgyzstan as vehemently anti-LGBTQ+, with the country having passed the same homophobic laws as the Russian leader.

Religious authorities in the Central Asian country issued a fatwa against Kasmamytov, prompting him to flee.

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