Figen, Trans Activist, Dies

Last night, trans activist Figen, member of Mersin 7Renk LGBT Organization committed suicide by jumping into the sea. 

Figen once was a member of Administrative Board of Pembe Hayat (LGBTT Solidarity Association founded in 2006, in Ankara). 

Recently, some trans women, including Figen, were exposed to the police violence in the middle of a street. Having said “you disturb people, get out of here” to trans women standing in a station, the police attacked them with tear gases and baton and took them forcibly to the police station. 

In the police station, the police neither launched a legal action nor accept demand of trans women for official report. When members from Mersin 7Renk and Pembe Hayat called the station, “There is no such an action here. You made it up,” the policeman said.

Figen couldn’t go to the funeral of her brother, who died in Soma Massacre, because of family pressure.

LGBT organizations will take over the funeral

Members from Mersin 7Renk, Pembe Hayat, and Kaos GL try to find Figen’s family, so that they take over the funeral. Evren Çakmak from Kaos GL and Buse Kılıçkaya and Gani Met from Pembe Hayat departed for Mersin to take over the funeral in case that Figen’s family doesn’t accept her funeral. 

Umut Güner from Kaos GL commented on LGBTI suicides in Kaos GL:

“Not only violence but also heterosexist culture and the very social structure make life unbearable. There is no sense in a sentence like ‘I’m not homophobic and transphobic.’ Even LGBTIs are homophobic and transphobic. Works on raising awareness are not enough any more. We need to organize alternative solidarity networks. A slogan like ‘killer government’ makes us feel relieved but not more. I can’t wish for her a good sleep in her grave. She didn’t even live well. I’m sorry for our loss.” (YT/ÇT/MUY/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.