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The "winners" of the 15th Hormonal Tomato LGBTI+phobia Awards were announced with a ceremony in Şişli, İstanbul yesterday (June 25).
Granted since 2005, when football commentator Erman Toroğlu said, "Don't eat hormonal tomatoes, you will become homosexuals", the Hormonal Tomato LGBTI+phobia Awards are granted to LGBTI+phobic persons and institutions in every İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week.
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This year's award-giving ceremony began with a cocktail party and red carpet and continued with drag and queer performances.
The "Lifelong Hormonal" award has been granted to Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, "who targets LGBTI+s with several statements." As for the "hormonal tomato" award in the media category, it has been given to the pro-government daily Yeni Akit, "which systematically targets LGBTI+s".
The Governorships of İstanbul and Ankara have also been given "hormonal tomato" awards for banning LGBTI+ events and Pride Parades.
The awards have been granted to following persons and institutions:
Institution: Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK) and Directorate of Religious Affairs
This award has been granted to the TİHEK, which stated that "gender equality cannot be considered among grounds of discrimination", and to the Directorate of Religious Affairs, which answered a question about discrimination against LGBTI+s with hate speech.
Civil Society: Pedagogy Association
This award has been granted to the association which alleged that "trans children can develop a gender identity that suits their biological designs."
Television: TV5
The "hormonal tomato" award in television category has been granted to TV5 channel, which stopped broadcasting a program after main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Beyoğlu Mayoral candidate Alper Taş used the expression of "LGBTIs" in the program.
Politics: Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş
Targeting Nilüfer District Municipality in a TV program, Bursa Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş said, "A perception of genderless toilets is spread by the municipality and, by allocating quotas to LGBTIs, they try to present them in society as if they were normal." Accordingly, Aktaş has been elected as this year's "hormonal tomato" in the category of politics.
METU President has been awarded as well
Governorship: Ankara Governorship
Special Award: İstanbul Governorship
This year's "hormonal tomato" awards in the categories of Governorship and Special Award have been granted to Ankara and İstanbul Governorships respectively for banning LGBTI+ events and LGBTI+ Pride Parades.
The Governorship of İstanbul also called LGBTI+s "a socially objectionable group" in a meeting on this year's Pride Parade.
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Media: Daily Yeni Akit
Pro-government daily Yeni Akit has been granted the "hormonal tomato" award in media category for systematically targeting LGBTI+s.
Education: METU President Verşan Kök
Verşan Kök, the President of Middle East Technical University (METU) in capital Ankara, banned METU Pride Parade and let the police into the campus, who then detained several students. Accordingly, Kök has been granted the award in the category of education.
Entertainment: Mustafa Ceceli
Having targeted musician İntizar and his ex-wife through images acquired by violating their right to privacy, Mustafa Ceceli has been granted this year's "hormonal tomato" award in the entertainment category.
International Award to Donald Trump
Place: Sensus Winehouse in İstanbul
In the category of place, the "hormonal tomato" award has been given to the Sensus Winehouse in İstanbul, which told a lesbian couple "customers are disturbed" and forced them to leave the place.
International: Donald Trump
"The International Hormonal Tomato" award has been granted to U.S. President Donald Trump due to his anti-trans declaration.
Special bi+phobia award: A magazine program on Beyaz TV
This year's "special bi+phobia" award has been granted to a magazine program called "Söylemezsem Olmaz" aired on Beyaz TV. The word "bisexual" was previously censored in the program.
Lifelong hormonal: Süleyman Soylu
Targeting LGBTI+s with several statements, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has been granted the "lifelong hormonal tomato award".
Source: Kaos GL
