METU LGBTI+ Solidarity Calls to Pride Parade: ‘Give Color to METU’

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After the Regional Administrative Court lifted the indefinite ban on all LGBTI+ events in the capital city of Ankara, the Middle East Technical University (METU) LGBTI+ Solidarity has announced that the 9th Pride Parade will be held in the METU campus on May 10, 2019.

CLICK - Court Lifts LGBTI+ Event Ban in Ankara

However, the METU Presidency sent an email to its students on May 6 and stated that all LGBTI+ events planned to be held at METU campus between May 7 and 12 have been banned.

Speaking to bianet regarding the issue, Özgür Gür from the METU LGBTI+ Solidarity said that they would take a legal action against the decision of the university presidency, underlining that the ban in question has no legal basis.

'We will not give up on our right of existence'

Releasing a written statement for the press today (May 8), the METU LGBTI+ Solidarity has announced that the 9th Pride Parade will be held on May 10 and made a call to everyone to solidarize with them:

"We are trying to make our voices heard so that we can express our demand for equal rights at campus, in school and in every field of life in the most peaceful way possible and have a celebration of rainbow.

"However, the METU Presidency is trying to prevent this event and threatening us with police though the indefinite LGBTI+ ban has been lifted in Ankara. We will still not give up on our right to exist and be visible.

Social media campaign: 'Give a color to METU'

"We need your support for that. We are inviting you to raise your voices under the hashtag #ODTÜyeRenkVer (Give a color to METU) at 8 p.m. on May 9. A simple call to the parade with a video or an image would also be very valuable for us." (EMK/SD)