LGBT Individuals Sent Letters to the Prime Minister

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

On 17th of May 2012 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia Amnesty International Turkey together with the local LGBT organizations organized a press statement and sent 50.000 the collected signatures to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

After the press statement made by Amnesty International Turkey Director, Murat Çekiç, anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia activists marched from Human Rights Statue on Yüksel Street in Ankara towards Yenişehir Post Office. Expressing that their action was a last resort, they sent the signatures to Prime Minister Erdoğan who did not respond to a meeting request made by Amnesty International Turkey.

Signatories to the press statement: ULUSLARARASI AF ÖRGÜTÜ, KAOS GL DERNEĞİ, SOSYAL POLİTİKALAR CİNSİYET KİMLİĞİ VE CİNSEL YÖNELİM ÇALIŞMALARI DERNEĞİ, İSTANBUL LGBTT DAYANIŞMA DERNEĞİ, PEMBE HAYAT LGBTT DAYANIŞMA DERNEĞİ, LGBT AİLELERİ İSTANBUL GRUBU, LAMBDAİSTANBUL LGBTT DAYANIŞMA DERNEĞİ, SİYAH PEMBE ÜÇGEN DERNEĞİ, MorEl ESKİŞEHİR LGBT OLUŞUMU, HEBUN DIYARBAKIR LGBT OLUŞUMU

The letters called upon Prime Minister Erdoğan:

- To prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in law and practice.

- To accept that discriminatory language –homophobic and transphobic discourse- is unacceptable and to prevent the use of discriminatory language by public officials and show political will to fight discrimination.

- To protect and respect LGBT organizations and openly support them.

* International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia – IDAHO. This day is remembered on 17th of May every year.

PHOTOS: SEMİH VAROL/KAOSGL.ORG