is editor-in-chief of Internet platform Özgürüz. He is now writing for Us Weekly about crisis in Turkey.
Read Turkish original here. The text has been edited easily for German version.
The governor of province of Ankara recently signed LGBT film days organized by German Embassy. The reasoning gives impression that it should not be filmed, but a coup attempt should be initiated:
"( event) could incite some of population against anor to hatred and enmity, re could be an imminent threat to public security, due to societal sensitivity to participating groups, some Protesting circles against demonstrations, it could lead to provocation... "
Following decision from governor, German Minister of State responsible for European affairs, Michael Roth, protested: "Freedom of art and rights of minorities are inviolable." The LGBT movement declared that fight would go on. As a result, authorities imposed an unlimited ban on all LGBT events planned for city.
Homosexuals are at forefront of those affected by Conservative wave, which has recently put pressure on society in Turkey. A look at story shows an interesting link between homosexual rights and Europeanization. According to historians, homosexual relations were considered "normal" in Ottoman Empire. It was only with insertion of westernization that y were considered "abnormal". It was only in Nineties, in wake of EU integration efforts, that recognition of homosexual rights was possible. The first homosexual organizations were founded in 1993 in Istanbul Lambda and 1994 in Ankara Kaos GL. For first time in Istanbul, 2003 a gay pride march with thirty people took place. By 2011, number of participants increased to ten thousand.
In 2015, LGBT movement was able to organise itself within HDP and from re to fight for rights. The party enrolled in programme, it would advocate "homosexual marriage" and set up transsexual and homosexual candidates.
This article dates back to time No. 48/2017. Here you can read entire output.But government felt disturbed by visibility of movement. Still 2010, state Minister for family said that homosexuality is a "disease that must be treated". In past two years, gay Pride march was prevented by police violence. With "accusation" of opposition as homosexual, homophobia has become, in a sense, a State policy. A State policy that fears even screening of LGBT films!
From Turkish by Sabine Adatepe
Date Of Update: 26 November 2017, 12:03
