content tagged with pride month

LGBTI+ activists unfurl rainbow flags in Ankara against bans

LGBTI+ activists unfurl rainbow flags in Ankara against bans

Activists in the capital city mark the Pride Week with various events.

Police obstruct Pride event, assail Green Left MP in Adana

Police obstruct Pride event, assail Green Left MP in Adana

MP Kaya said that the police had subjected her to restraints despite introducing herself as an MP.

Rights advocates urge release of LGBTI+ activist facing repatriation to Iran

Rights advocates urge release of LGBTI+ activist facing repatriation to Iran

Elyas Torabibaeskendari, who has been residing in Turkey for 10 years and is under international protection status, may face death sentence in their own country, rights defenders warn.

30 June 2023 Evrim Kepenek

Rights violations and event bans during Pride Month

Rights violations and event bans during Pride Month

The HRFT has documented some of the bans on Pride Month events across Turkey.

Group condemns İstanbul exhibition for 'displaying LGBTI+ propaganda, nudity'

Group condemns İstanbul exhibition for 'displaying LGBTI+ propaganda, nudity'

The exhibition was opened under the auspices of the opposition-led İstanbul Municipality.

HRW denounces Turkey's bans on Pride celebrations as flagrant human rights violation

HRW denounces Turkey's bans on Pride celebrations as flagrant human rights violation

Over 160 people have been detained during recent Pride parades while anti-LGBT rhetoric by officials is on the rise.

Activists unfurl rainbow flag on Galata Tower after İstanbul Pride Parade

Activists unfurl rainbow flag on Galata Tower after İstanbul Pride Parade

At least 93 individuals have been apprehended following the 21st edition of the march.

Capturing resilience: Photos from İstanbul's Pride Parade

Capturing resilience: Photos from İstanbul's Pride Parade

Despite bans and heavy police presence, LGBTI+ activists managed to hold a gathering and deliver their messages in İstanbul.

Full statement of İstanbul Pride Parade Committee: 'You can't deal with queers'

PRIDE 2023

Full statement of İstanbul Pride Parade Committee: 'You can't deal with queers'

The LGBTI+ activists who gathered in the Nişantaşı quarter managed to read out a statement before the police intervention.

İstanbul Pride Parade: LGBTI+ activists gather despite restrictions, nearly 100 detained

İstanbul Pride Parade: LGBTI+ activists gather despite restrictions, nearly 100 detained

Amid heavy police presence in Taksim, the usual location for the Pride Parade, activists gathered in the nearby quarter of Nişantaşı without a prior public announcement.

25 June 2023 Evrim Kepenek,Tuğçe Yılmaz,Wouter Massink

'Go insane as we exist': LGBTI+ activists project Pride Parade message onto Bosphorus Bridge

'Go insane as we exist': LGBTI+ activists project Pride Parade message onto Bosphorus Bridge

Amid widespread bans on LGBTI+ events, activists found a creative way to deliver their message.

İstanbul MP faces criminal complaint for calling police 'occupiers' at Trans Pride March

PRIDE MONTH

İstanbul MP faces criminal complaint for calling police 'occupiers' at Trans Pride March

Police barricades and detentions marred the 9th edition of the march, which was banned due to concerns about its 'threat to the family institution'.

LGBTI+ breakfast gathering in İzmir faces harassment by group chanting 'Allahu Akbar'

PRIDE MONTH

LGBTI+ breakfast gathering in İzmir faces harassment by group chanting 'Allahu Akbar'

A pro-government secular party and an Islamist group jointly protested the gathering organized by the provincial bar association. The lawyers criticized the police for their lenient approach towards those harassing the event.

İstanbul Trans Pride March: Detained activists released

İstanbul Trans Pride March: Detained activists released

Ten people, including a minor, were detained during the event, whcih was banned by the authorities.

İstanbul Trans Pride March faces aggression amid heavy police presence

İstanbul Trans Pride March faces aggression amid heavy police presence

Despite the heavy police presence, activists were able to gather in a side street approximately one kilometer away from Taksim to deliver their statement. However, as they began to disperse, they were met with aggression from both the police and nearby shopkeepers, resulting in the detention of at least six people.

18 June 2023 Evrim Kepenek,Tuğçe Yılmaz

Judith Butler sends solidarity message to LGBTI+ community in Turkey

PRIDE MONTH

Judith Butler sends solidarity message to LGBTI+ community in Turkey

"We are struggling, all of us, for a world in which our lives can neither be bargained away nor simply annihilated. But if you speak this way, speaking brings you into peril. If you gather, as is your right, you are accused of domestic terrorism," said the philosopher.

Local district in Turkey bans Pride Week to ensure 'peace and security'

PRIDE MONTH

Local district in Turkey bans Pride Week to ensure 'peace and security'

Following the trend of banned Pride events in Turkey, the Datça District Governorship in Muğla province has prohibited all Pride Week activities since June 12.

LGBTI+ 'tea gathering' banned in İstanbul

PRIDE MONTH

LGBTI+ 'tea gathering' banned in İstanbul

The "Tea&Talk" events have been attended by English speakers in İstanbul for years.

bianet staff expresses solidarity with LGBTI+ community against attacks in Pride Month

bianet staff expresses solidarity with LGBTI+ community against attacks in Pride Month

"We will continue to wield our pen in support of the hard-fought rights of LGBTI+s," the staff said in a video message.

Pride Month: Police detain students ahead of planned picnic in İzmir

Pride Month: Police detain students ahead of planned picnic in İzmir

The organizers of the picnic have condemned arbitrary bans on Pride Month events.

Journalists urge end of restrictions on Pride Month events

Journalists urge end of restrictions on Pride Month events

"We no longer want to report on violence and bans against LGBTI+s!" 154 journalists said in a joint statement.

METU Pride March marred by interventions, detentions

METU Pride March marred by interventions, detentions

Posters promoting the "protection of the family" were hung on campus prior to the parade.

9 June 2023 Evrim Kepenek,Tuğçe Yılmaz

LGBTI+ groups mark the start of Pride Month

LGBTI+ groups mark the start of Pride Month

This year, the theme of the celebrations in the country will be centered around the May elections and the pressures faced by the LGBTI+ community.

Returning to the scene

WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Returning to the scene

MBS pays a “not too kind” visit to Turkey after years-long rift • Every single LGBTI+ event gets banned in Pride Month • Journalists continue protesting arrests, new bill • Wildfire season starts in the Aegean Region

27 June 2022 Volga Kuşçuoğlu

Police prevent gathering for Pride Month in İstanbul, detain 11 people

Police prevent gathering for Pride Month in İstanbul, detain 11 people

A group of LGBTI+ activists wanted to read out a statemet for the press in Kadıköy. Hundreds of police officers were deployed to prevent the gathering.

6 June 2022 Tuğçe Yılmaz

We cannot be ‘shy’ in defending LGBTI+ rights

PENNED BY EVRİM KEPENEK

We cannot be ‘shy’ in defending LGBTI+ rights

We consider “secrecy” to be important in helping someone, but I would like to note that if we want to support the LGBTI+ movement, what we need to do is not to “help” but to defend their rights and to do it "openly."

15 June 2020 Evrim Kepenek

Decathlon Turkey Calls for 'Inclusiveness' After Reactions to 'Pride Month' Post

Decathlon Turkey Calls for 'Inclusiveness' After Reactions to 'Pride Month' Post

The company has said it was "surprised and upset" because of a boycott campaign against it over a social media post on Pride Month.