The fourth annual Turkish transsexual pride march held on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey, outgrew in the protest march against the Turkish government and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian rule.
According to the AFP, just a day after another anti-government rally was forcefully crashed by riot police who used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protestors, nearly 1,000 of Turkish LGBT activists joined rights activists in Taksim Square.
Carrying signs with slogans such as “being transsexual is not a disease” and chanting that they “do not want to live in a transphobic state”, protestors peacefully walked along
Istiklal Avenue, the main Istanbul shopping street. Gathered activists have argued that the state should recognize transsexual identity and that the Turkish society should fight dominant homophobia and transphobia. In support of the anti-government protests that started in May, activists chanted that “everywhere is Takism, everywhere is resistance”.
“This is just beginning, the struggle continues”, gathered activists shouted repeatedly the chant that became a hallmark of the Turkish anti-government demonstrations, the AFP reported.
Although homosexuality and sex change operations are not illegal in Turkey as in many other predominately Muslim countries, homophobia is common and LGBT persons often face social discrimination and are victims of violence. Turkish former Minister of State, responsible for Women and Family Affairs, Selma Aliye Kavaf, previously referred to homosexuality as disease.
Within the “Pride Week”, Turkish annual gay parade is planned to take place next weekend at the same place in Istanbul.
Ivana Cvetkovic, 23 June 2013
