Post by lgbti on Oct 14, 2014 17:14:34 GMT -6
TURKEY — A new umbrella organization has been established to
fight homophobia and transphobia in Turkey, the Islamic country that
straddles Europe and Asia, reports GayAsiaNews.com
In existence less than two months, Turkey LGBTI Union was created in
order to ensure unity and solidarity among LGBTI groups, LGBTI Web
sites and LGBTI organizations, Burçin Bordanacı of the Turkey LGBTI
Union told GayAsiaNews.com by email.
“Because Turkey is an Islamic country, although not in the same league
as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq in its vehemently anti-LGBTI stance,
there is still need for togetherness and solidarity among LGBTI
groups to counter the homophobia and transphobia that exists in
Turkey,” Bordanacı said.
Currently, Turkey LGBTI Union has three LGBT organizations and three LGBTI Web sites that have become members stated Bordanacı.
Turkey LGBTI Union is based in the Turkish capital of Ankara and has its own website (lgbti.org/).
It is founded by a gay activist Nikopol who was also instrumental in
forming an LGBTI community/club in Turkey in 2006, Bordanacı said.
Nikopol who founded the Turk Gay Club used the Internet to bring
together Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex
individuals. It was dedicated to safeguarding the rights of the LGBTI
community and help individuals come together and meet within a safe
environment. The club has been a member of the International Lesbian
and Gay Association (ILGA) since 2012.
The objectives of this latest endeavor is to concertedly help fight
and safeguard LGBTI rights, push for equality laws and counter
homophobia and transphobia that exists in Turkish society.
Same-sex relations have been legal in Turkey since 1858, but the law
does not include sexual orientation or gender identity within its legal
or civil rights structure. Current Turkish laws also do not recognize
same-sex couples.
In recent years some conservative Islamic sections of Turkish society,
which is predominantly Muslim, have become vociferous in their
opposition to the LGBT community and equality rights and often openly
advocate homophobic discrimination in Turkey. This has led to an
increase in hate crimes and authorities are now proposing legislation
against anti-LGBT hate crimes and discrimination, as well as to
constitutionally allow the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
The Constitution Reconciliation Commission had agreed in 2013 to
provide constitutional protection against discrimination for the LGBTI
community. However, that draft proposal was later cancelled on the
pretext that it conflicted with other parts of the new Constitution.
LGBTWeekly.com
fight homophobia and transphobia in Turkey, the Islamic country that
straddles Europe and Asia, reports GayAsiaNews.com
In existence less than two months, Turkey LGBTI Union was created in
order to ensure unity and solidarity among LGBTI groups, LGBTI Web
sites and LGBTI organizations, Burçin Bordanacı of the Turkey LGBTI
Union told GayAsiaNews.com by email.
“Because Turkey is an Islamic country, although not in the same league
as Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq in its vehemently anti-LGBTI stance,
there is still need for togetherness and solidarity among LGBTI
groups to counter the homophobia and transphobia that exists in
Turkey,” Bordanacı said.
Currently, Turkey LGBTI Union has three LGBT organizations and three LGBTI Web sites that have become members stated Bordanacı.
Turkey LGBTI Union is based in the Turkish capital of Ankara and has its own website (lgbti.org/).
It is founded by a gay activist Nikopol who was also instrumental in
forming an LGBTI community/club in Turkey in 2006, Bordanacı said.
Nikopol who founded the Turk Gay Club used the Internet to bring
together Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex
individuals. It was dedicated to safeguarding the rights of the LGBTI
community and help individuals come together and meet within a safe
environment. The club has been a member of the International Lesbian
and Gay Association (ILGA) since 2012.
The objectives of this latest endeavor is to concertedly help fight
and safeguard LGBTI rights, push for equality laws and counter
homophobia and transphobia that exists in Turkish society.
Same-sex relations have been legal in Turkey since 1858, but the law
does not include sexual orientation or gender identity within its legal
or civil rights structure. Current Turkish laws also do not recognize
same-sex couples.
In recent years some conservative Islamic sections of Turkish society,
which is predominantly Muslim, have become vociferous in their
opposition to the LGBT community and equality rights and often openly
advocate homophobic discrimination in Turkey. This has led to an
increase in hate crimes and authorities are now proposing legislation
against anti-LGBT hate crimes and discrimination, as well as to
constitutionally allow the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
The Constitution Reconciliation Commission had agreed in 2013 to
provide constitutional protection against discrimination for the LGBTI
community. However, that draft proposal was later cancelled on the
pretext that it conflicted with other parts of the new Constitution.
LGBTWeekly.com