My thesis examines the public discourse surrounding the 2022 ban of the Disney movie Buzz Lightyear in Kazakhstan, triggered by concerns over LGBTIQ content. By analyzing the controversy through the lens of cultural sociology, the study explores how national identity is constructed and negotiated in Kazakhstan, focusing on the symbolic boundaries drawn around LGBTIQ people. Utilizing a grounded theory-inspired analytical method and narrative analysis, the research identifies two dominant and contradictory narratives about national identity. These narratives reflect divergent views on the role of law, religion, and tradition in shaping national identity, with each side offering different mechanisms for nation-building. The anti-LGBTIQ position is embedded largely in the organic vision of national identity, while adherents of the voluntarist vision of national identity create space for discussion about the acceptance of LGBTIQ people. However, the study highlights how both narratives engage in "othering" practices, positioning the LGBTIQ community as the significant "other" to reinforce national boundaries. Ultimately, this work demonstrates how LGBTIQ topics play a central role in defining Kazakhstan’s national identity and the social exclusion of marginalized groups.