IDAHOTB » Turkey

Turkey – IDAHOTB 2018 Country Page

Joel Bedos — Thu, 31 May 2018 10:13:16 +0000

Reporting on events by KAOS GL:

There is an ongoing state of emergency in Turkey as well as a ban on LGBTI events in Ankara, LGBTI organizations and initiatives are under great pressure to organize such events and demonstrations. But still there are many events organized across Turkey:

KaosGL released a press statement regarding the ongoing bans against LGBTI+ demonstrations and assemblies, drawing attention to hate speech in the media, discrimination against LGBTI+ individuals in employment, and increased impunity against hate crimes. (Read the statement through this link.) KaosGL has also published an ad celebrating the day in the national dailies Birgün and Evrensel, as seen on the featured image of this article, raising the rainbow flag in print media. The ad reads: “Happy IDAHOBIT, with wishes for equality and freedom!” Yıldız Tar from KaosGL also attended the panel organized at the Dutch Embassy in Ankara, together with Gökkuşağı Aileleri Grubu and Maruf, an association from the Netherlands.

Kaos GL had to move its annual symposium organized in dedication to the Day to İzmir: http://kaosgl.org/page.php?id=25921 (english)

SPoD (Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association) organized a week-long celebration of IDAHOBIT. On May 19th, SPoD hosted a discussion with gaycities.com editor and independent journalist Tony Taylor, and on May 17th the association held a panel at the Istanbul Consulate of the Netherlands together with activists Simon Timmerman from COC (Netherlands) and Ida Ali Lindqvist from RFSL (Sweden), where participants shared their experiences in LGBTI+ activism. On May 20th, SPoD called everyone to join a picnic at Maçka Demokrasi Park to strengthen solidarity and to unwind a little.

Bursa Özgür Renkler Derneği (Free Colors Association) welcomed IDAHOBIT 2018 with various events, including a training session on May 7 at Uludağ University; a gathering to recruit new volunteers on May 16th; and a special forum titled, “Civil Society Gathering for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality” on May 17th, bringing together 13 civil society organizations.

BİZ Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Studies Association organized a film screening followed by a panel to honour the day in Antalya.

Several local governance bodies and foreign embassies celebrated IDAHOBIT as well. While the Belgian, German, British, Danish, Dutch, Swedish and Canadian embassies hung the rainbow flag on their building, Ankara’s Çankaya Municipality, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Women’s Studies Directorate and Şişli Municipality celebrated by sharing solidarity messages. The Union of Education and Science Labourers and Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions did not forget to support the struggle against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia and shared social media posts demanding an end to discrimination.
Amnesty International Turkey posted special illustrations for IDAHOBIT 2018 with the captions “Love is a human right!”, while Human Rights Association (İHD) reminded social media users that LGBTI+ rights are human rights in their solidarity message.

Publishing houses were also among those who shared messages of solidarity for May 17th. Ayrıntı, Sel and Notabene publishing houses, known for printing LGBTI+ literature, honored the day through their social media accounts.

LGBTI News Turkey, compiled this article from articles published on our website KaosGL.org.

Additional info

In Kocaeli, there is a small LGBTI initiative. They could hang a flag for the day: http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=25830

There was a demonstration in Cyprus: http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=25821

Lambda Istanbul had a meeting: http://kaosgl.org/sayfa.php?id=25831

This is the general statements of the LGBTI organizations about 17th of May: http://kaosgl.org/page.php?id=25884

With the slogan, “Ban the bans,” the 8th METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade was held with the participation of hundreds of students at the campus of Middle East Technical University (METU) in the capital city of Ankara on May 11.

IDAHOT 2017 country page: Turkey

IDAHO — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:22:13 +0000

Kaos GL: International Meeting Against Homophobia – conference with a focus on “Queer Politics of Labour”; May 13-17 @ Ankara
Kocaeli LGBT Initiative:
- IDAHOT picnic – picnic and discussion; May 17 from 2:00 p.m. @ front of Kocaeli Universty Communication Faculty, Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Umuttepe Yerleşkesi, İzmit
- May 17 March; May 17 from 6:30 p.m. @ İnsan Hakları Parkı, İzmit
Listag Lgbti+ Aileleri ve Yakınları Grubu and Benim Çocuğum – My Child: Turkey to Chechnya / Турция – Чечне / Türkiye’den Çeçenistan’a; My Child; May 17 – May 18 – 24 hours @ Youtube / My Child, which will be available online for free with Russian subtitles on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17th

IDAHOT Report 2016: Turkey

IDAHO — Sun, 29 May 2016 12:35:22 +0000

The Turkish LGBT community this year faced several legal difficulties in their efforts to celebrate IDAHOT 2016. According to local LGBT group Kaos GL a planned IDAHOT march was banned by state authorities after their license was revoked.

The event was reportedly cancelled due to security concerns, but the group also claim the decision to remove their license was part of a targeted persecution of their group, which has often been critical of the political establishment in the past.

Kaos GL and the LGBT community instead held a small closed event. Several small events were also held by the international community. In Istanbul the Swedish consulate hosted an afternoon in support of the day, which featured live performances and a talk on discrimination.

IDAHOT in Turkish capital: For freedom and love!

Joel Bedos — Sun, 17 May 2015 21:54:54 +0000

May 17, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), has been celebrated today with the largest participation ever in the Turkish capital. This year’s slogan “We are marching for freedom and love” attracted thousands under rainbow flags, marking the end of the 10^thInternational Anti-Homophobia Meeting organized by Kaos GL Association.

http://www.kaosgl.org/page.php?id=19438

IDAHOT Events 2015: Turkey

IDAHO — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 07:58:26 +0000

May 17, the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), has been celebrated with the largest participation ever in the Turkish capital. This year’s slogan “We are marching for freedom and love” attracted thousands under rainbow flags, marking the end of the 10^thInternational Anti-Homophobia Meeting organized by Kaos GL Association.

We are still busy collecting information on this year’s IDAHOT activities and are waiting to hear back from activists and event organisers. If you have information to share with us, please write us at contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org

In dedication to the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, leading Turkish LGBTI advocates KAOS GL held their annual ‘anti-homophobia meeting’.

The Kaos GL’s 10^th International Anti-Homophobia Meeting in dedication of May 17 focused on queer pedagogy, collective crimes, discrimination in sports and experiences of women story authors:

“Safety itself may well be a threat”

“Lesbian players face pressure from their coaches about social media”

Lesbian story contest: Changing lives through writing encouraged to me to write more

“We should resist victim derogation for collective responsibility”

Room for a new thought: Queering bathrooms against trans erasure

At the end of the panels, activists met at Ankara University’s Cebeci Campus, which is often targeted by Islamist daily Vahdet for its “collaboration with perverts”. Academics, activists, students, workers and union members chanted slogans such as “love and freedom, away from hatred”, “Gays will not shut up”, “The world would turn upside down, if trans people were free” together with a queered version of a famous Kurdish feminist slogan “women, life, freedom”.

The march ended in Sakarya Square with a press release condemning the military coup in 1980, following the recent death of coup leader Kenan Evren, which resulted in violence against many who do not conform to heteronormative expectations.

Then music took over. Firstly, feminist singer Gulay was on stage and sang songs she wrote against patriarchy. After her, the Compiled Band composed of LGBTI activists sang folk songs. Finally, The Group Arin sang Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic songs, which attracted many passersby and stirred up the crowd for famous folk dance halay.

The full program can be accessed on KAOS’ website

The meeting, which has occurred every year since 2006 is a place for advocates and activists to come together within the LGBT community for a weekend of meetings, workshops and activities.

On Friday, May 15, representatives of the Swedish, the Dutch and British Embassies in Istanbul met with LİSTAG, a group of family and friends of LGBTI people in Turkey to celebrate IDAHOT.

IDAHOT Report 2014: Turkey

IDAHO — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:00:11 +0000

Turkey

This year three different organizations hosted IDAHOT actions in Turkey. Actions included the launch of an online LGBTI Magazine, a bike ride against hate, film screenings and a set of panel discussions.

Queer Adana hosted a Bike Tour against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Sexism in Adana on May 17, starting at noon. The Tour was followed by the TansX Istanbul Film Premiere Gala in Adana, which took place at the Seyhan Cultural Centre. Trans X Istanbul is a personal documentary film and part of the multi-platform project Trans X Turkey about the human rights situation of Trans* communities in the country.

Bike Tour against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and Sexism in Adana, May 17

The Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD) celebrated May 17 by launching a new e-Magazine, named “Çark”! Çark Mag aims to popularise community issues and events, covering LGBTI nightlife and community friendly places, culture and art-related news, reviews, and interviews, and will also collect relevant news from Istanbul and other cities in Turkey.

SPoD also hosted a panel and reception together with the Consulate General of the Netherlands on May 17 in dedication to the worldwide IDAHOT celebrations.

Kaos GL Association hosted IDAHOT actions for the 9th time this year with a chain of panels and social events in May. The theme of the 9th year was “resistance”, in reference to the nation-wide protests that started in May 2013 in Gezi Park.

Istanbul Street Parade for IDAHOT 2014

Communities demonstrate in Istanbul as part of a month of commemorations

Further information

Queer Adana: homepage
SPoD: website
Kaos GL: website

IDAHOT events in Adana, Turkey

IDAHO — Wed, 14 May 2014 16:17:18 +0000

Queer Adana has announced events for IDAHOT, including a Bicycle Tour against Homo-, Trans- and Biphobia and all kinds of sexism for LGBTI and women and the TransX Istanbul Film Premiere Gala in Adana.

Queer Adana will be hosting a Bicycle Tour against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia and all kinds of Sexism in Adana on May 17, starting at noon.
Bring your own bicycle or they will help you rent one. Let’s move further towards the green fields and nature by the river. This is organised event for women and LGBTI’s only.
For more detail, please visit the event page.

After the Bicycle Tour, at 6:00pm there will be the TansX Istanbul Film Premiere Gala in Adana, which will take place at the Seyhan Cultural Centre.
Trans X Istanbul is a personal documentary film and part of the multi-platform project Trans X Turkey about the human rights situation of Transgender people (Trans*) in Turkey.

Thousands of Trans*Women live in the big cities of Turkey. Since 2009 there has been an increase in the murder of Trans*. If crimes against Trans*Women are even investigated by the police and brought to court, the perpetrators can usually rely on being exempted from prosecution. Ebru, a Trans*Woman from Istanbul, fights against the displacement and murder of her companions. She has experienced exclusion from state, society and family in her own life. For 25 years she has been active for human rights and the rights of LGBTIQ. She wants to change Turkish society with humour, self-irony and political acumen. She meets Margarethe, a 85-year-old German retired nurse and mother of the film‐maker, and establishes together with her a retirement home for Trans*. Urban transformation of Istanbul and the protests around the Gezi Park resonate throughout the film.
For more detail, please visit the TransX Istanbul site or the Facebook page.

For more information on the day of action and the organisers, please visit Queer Adana.

Events to commemorate IDAHOT in Turkey

IDAHO — Mon, 12 May 2014 12:32:34 +0000

The main activities of the 9th International Anti-Homophobia Meeting will take place in Ankara on May 17th and 18th and end with “the March against Homophobia” on May 18th. All the events will be held at Ankara University and include speakers Tamara Adrian, Prof. Dr. Samim Akgül, Kürşad Kahramanoğlu and Jack Halberstam.

This year’s theme is defined as “The political barriers such as family, reproduced discourses on traditional values, patriarchy, religion, conservatism, nationalism… that prevent LGBTIs from accessing rights and freedom.”

The program is as follows:

May 17, 2014
12.00 – 13.00/Opening speech
Tamara Adrian, Chairperson of the International IDAHO-T (International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) Committee
“Equal Rights to fight against Heterosexism: The lessons of history of racism and sexism.”
Moderator: Sibel Yardımcı

14.00 – 15.30/ First session
Prof. Dr. Samim Akgül, Strasbourg University,
“LGBT groups and ‘minority rights’”
Moderator: Remzi Altunpolat

16.00 – 17.30/ Second session
Kürşad Kahramanoğlu, Journalist-author
“A Happy family: An early heaven”

May 18, 2014
12.00/13.30 /Closing speech
Jack Halberstam, California University
“Charming for the Revolution: A Gaga Manifesto”
Moderator: Begüm Başdaş

14.00/ March against Homophobia and Transphobia

Besides the main activities listed above, Kaos GL celebrates the month of May with several academic and cultural activities that are going to be held between May 5 and May 18.

Here are the details on past activities:
May 5: Communication between Cultures
Gülsüm Depeli, Hacettepe University

May 5: Queer Waltz Atelier
Place: Yapı Sanat- Mithatpaşa Caddesi No:39/2 Kızılay

May 7: Public(s) of the Media? – Counter Publics
Simten Coşar, Hacettepe University

May 8: Media and Social Movements
Simten Coşar, Hacettepe University

May 10: Bonnie Li Airlines Party
“Her music style, trip-hop/electro, rocked by high-beat samples and bewitched gimmicks, makes us travel through everyday life moments, what Bonnie calls ‘Short Stories.’”
Place: Noxus Bar

May 10: Discussions on the Problems of LGBT Refugees and Solution Proposals
Workshop held by Kaos GL and Amnesty International Turkey Office

May 10: “Kim Korkar Hain Vajinadan?” (Who’s afraid of Vagina Wolf?)
Within the scope of Flaying Broom Film Festival – “Beyond Pink and Blue”
Director Anna Margarita Albelo met the audience just after the screening of her film
Place: Kızılırmak Sineması

May 12: “Trans X İstanbul”
Place: Ahmet Taner Kışlalı Sanat Evi, Ankara Üniversitesi Cebeci Kampüsü.

May 13: Executive Committee Meeting of Diversity and Litigation Platform
The first meeting organised by the Foundation for Society and Legal Studies (TOHAV) and Kaos GL

May 13: “Pardon! Kim, Ben mi?” (Pardon! Who, me?)
Within the scope of Flaying Broom Film Festival – “Beyond Pink and Blue”
Place: Goethe Institute

May 13: Paralel Devrim (Parallel Revolution)
Within the scope of Flaying Broom Film Festival – “Beyond Pink and Blue”
Place: Goethe Institute
Note: “Pardon! Who, me?” and “Parallel Revolution” was screened consecutively.

May 14: Ali and Ramazan
Place: Tiyatro Tempo, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı No:114/C Maltepe

May 15: Cruising the Social Service: Social Service for LGBTQIs
Sedat Yağcıoğlu, Hacettepe University

May 16: Turkish Parliament will host a press conference this Friday for the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO-T).

May 16: “Possibilities and Discussions: Where the road bifurcates in Queer Theory?”
Prof. Dr. Jack Halberstam (California University) net with academics and graduate students at Ankara University

E-Magazine to commemorate May 17 in Turkey

IDAHO — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:34:47 +0000

Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD) in Turkey will be celebrating May 17 by launching a new e-Magazine, named “Çark”!

Image: Logo of SPoD

SPoD Organisation will be hosting a panel and reception together with Consulate General of the Netherlands on May 17 in dedication to IDAHOT celebrations.
Çark Mag is an online magazine about LGBTI culture and lifestyle, which started under the same roof of SPoD. Çark Mag aims to follow agenda of LGBTI nightlife and friendly places, culture-art news, reviews, and interviews, and will collect all news from Istanbul and other cities in Turkey.

The Magazine will cover LGBT entertainment venues, focal spots, culture and art news and articles, book critiques and interviews. The work will reach beyond Istanbul to rural cities and its launch will be dedicated to May 17.

Conference to commemorate May 17 in Ankara, Turkey

IDAHO — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 18:01:09 +0000

Photo: LGBTI Turkey map source Wikimedia Commons

Kaos GL will be hosting a conference in Ankara with IDAHO Committee chief Tamara Adrian, who will talk about Freedom of Expression. The organisers also invited academic star Jack Halbersam who is a Professor of English and Gender Studies at the University of Southern California and an expert in queer, gender and feminist theories and studies.

Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Researches and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL) is a LGBTI organisation in Turkey and was founded in 1994.

The purpose of the Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Researches and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL) is to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans individuals in embracing libertarian values, realizing their own existence, and in cultivating themselves in order to contribute to the development of social peace and welfare together with the development of their individual, social and cultural life and behavior.

Visit their website or check out their Facebook page.

Photo: Istanbul Pride 2013, source Kaos GL