As we prepared for our trip to Istanbul, we learned that in Turkey the maximum penalty for juveniles is 24 years in prison. We were unable to arrange interviews with juvenile justice advocates, so after happening upon a rally advocating for hate crime legislation in response to the murder of a transgender woman in Istanbul, we decided to learn more about the LGBT rights movement across the country. Although there are no laws against
homosexuality in Turkey and since 1988 Turkish residents can legally change
their gender, there are no laws to protect people against discrimination
based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
To learn more about the LGBT rights movement in Turkey we
video taped a question and answer session with Oner Ceylon who volunteers with
Lambda Istanbul - self identified as the largest "queer liberation" group in Turkey.
Lambda Istanbul was formed by a small number of gays and
lesbians as a result of a police ban on Christopher Street Day (an annual European LGBT celebration and demonstration held in various cities across Europe for the rights of LGBT people, and against discrimination and exclusion - definition from Wikipedia) celebrations in
1993. Since then, Lambda, Istanbul has grown in membership and aims to raise
its voice on behalf of the gay communities in Istanbul.
Although being gay or trans is not a criminal offense in Turkey, some articles of
the highly flexible police regulations can be used very easily to ban meetings
and demonstrations on so-called public morality grounds. In 1995 and 1996
Lambda Istanbul planned activity weeks which would have included gay and
lesbian themed films, panels discussions, and exhibitions. On both occasions
the activities were banned by the police and the Governor of Istanbul who claimed the activities
were against public morals. The organizing committee was advised by police not
to make any further attempts as the Turkish society was not yet ready for the
visibility of homosexuality!
According to their website, despite this pressure and opposition,
Lambda Istanbul is still carrying
out the following projects:
- We work close together with other gay groups in Ankara, called KAOS GL (gay) and Sappho'nun Kizlari (lesbian). Since Autumn 1998, we together organize national meetings of Turkish gays, lesbians and transgenders. Springs in Ankara, Autumns in Istanbul. It is also supported by Türk Gay, a group of Turkish gays in Germany, Köln.
- We support the bi-monthly gay and lesbian magazine KAOS GL, which is out since September 1994. It is available in alternative bookstores in many towns across Turkey.
- Together with the AIDS Prevention Society in Turkey, we have prepared the first Safe Sex Brochure addressing gay men.
- Our weekly meetings is the only one in Istanbul, where gays, lesbians and transgenders can speak with one another about many themes, that are important for them. It is a place, where people learn to accept themselves and one another, where they may become involved in several social movements, too.
- Our support telephone is an important help for people who want to contact our group or need somebody to talk to.
What are the major issues affecting
the LGBT community in Turkey?
What is the political party of
the LGBT movement in Turkey?
Can you be religious and gay?
Are sex workers safe in Turkey?
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