METU LGBTI+ Solidarity Now a Member of EPOA

* Photo: Kaos GL

Click to read the article in Turkish

The METU LGBTI+ Solidarity, the organizers of the Pride Parade in the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, is now a member of the European Pride Organizers Association (EPOA).

The Association has announced the membership of the solidarity on its Twitter account: "We're proud and humbled to welcome @odtulgbti, the organisers of #METUPride in Ankara, Turkey, as a member of EPOA. We continue to support them in the ongoing legal proceedings they face for 'illegally' organising a Pride. #DefendMETUPride"

We're proud and humbled to welcome @odtulgbti, the organisers of #METUPride in Ankara, Turkey, as a member of EPOA. We continue to support them in the ongoing legal proceedings they face for 'illegally' organising a Pride. #DefendMETUPride https://t.co/jCeTJH1osX

— EuroPride • EPOA (@EuroPride) January 10, 2020

After their application to be recognized as an official student society was rejected, the first METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade was organized by the METU LGBTI+ Solidarity in 2011. The last parade held in May 2019 was attacked by the police, who detained 21 students and one academic.

CLICK - Lawsuit Against 19 METU Students for Joining Pride Parade

METU Pride Parade in May

Entering the METU campus upon the call of the university president on May 10, 2019, the police attacked the 9th METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade with pepper gas, plastic bullets and physical force. One academic and 21 students were taken into custody. They were released late at night.

This year's METU LGBTI+ Pride Parade will be held in May. (TÇ/EMK/SD)