Violence Caused by Homophobia

"The Politics' stance on Hate against Transphobia" was the topic of the second session of the "Meeting to Commemorate the Trans Individuals who Became Victims of Hate Crime" on 27 November in Ankara.

The session was lead by Damla Çimen from the Turkish LGBT association Pink Life. The first speech was delivered by Nicole Maes, Head of the Department of Political Affairs of the Embassy of the Netherlands. Before the background of her close following up of the LGBTT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, and transsexual) situation in Turkey, Maes highlighted the situation in the Netherlands:

"The Netherlands look back onto a history of diversity and tolerance. This reputation is also valid for the topic of transgender, even though I cannot say that we do not experience any problems. The most important issue is the social acceptance. We are trying to promote principles against discrimination with our diplomatic work. We try to move transgender away from being perceived as a crime and to make it acceptable world-wide".

Tuncel: "LGBTT struggle should be brought into politics"

Sebahat Tuncel, member of parliament of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), indicated that hate murders were not only aimed at LGBTT individuals but at anyone who was considered different and perceived guilty by the society. Tuncel summarized the situation at parliament and suggested ways to prevent hate crimes and to make problems of LGBTT individuals visible.

"Unfortunately, the problems of LGBTT persons are not a topic in focus of the parliamentary agenda and the political developments. The sexist attitude within the political parties is also a big problem. In order to prevent hate crimes, we need legal regulations that guarantee the right to freedom and to life for LGBTT individuals".

"Even if the AKP leaves the new constitution to after the general elections, the LGBTT persons should not bear any further delay. They have to say that they want a new constitution as well. It is very important to create a social opposition. It is crucial to bring the struggle into the streets and into politics. There can be no justice in a place where there is no equality".

Karakaş: 'Left-wing movements leave LGBTTs alone'

Şenol Karakaş from the Revolutionary Socialist Workers Party criticized the left-wing movement for the insufficient support of the LGBTT struggle.

"The Turkish left leaves the LGBTT individuals alone with their struggle, they do not see them. The left in Turkey lives on Stalinism and Kemalism. The Stalinist bureaucracy does not accept homosexuality and thereby harms the family as a new group of capital. Kemalism is an entirely bourgeois moral. We see that the left supports the LGBTT struggle just marginally when these two concepts come together. We have to create a revolutionary left altogether including the LGBTT individuals", Karakaş demanded.

Other sessions of the Meeting to Commemorate the Trans Individuals who Became Victims of Hate Crime were held on the topics of "Pathologizing Transsexuality" and "Artists Against Hate". (ÇT/EÖ/VK)