"From Stonewall to Ülker Street; From Eryaman to Meis Site; From Mis to Bayram Street, from METU to Boğaziçi; we existed, existing and will continue to exist in all areas of life."
Happy May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia!
On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases. May 17 has been celebrated around the world since 2004 and in Turkey since 2006 as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Interphobia.
Today, in an atmosphere where right-wing populist governments are trying to institutionalize LGBTI+ opposition, we are celebrating the 32nd year of the removal of homosexuality from the disease category thanks to the organized struggle of the LGBTI+ movement. But the pathologization of trans and intersex identities has not stopped yet. However, our fight against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, interphobia and all forms of discrimination is growing by solidarity, without leaving any identity behind.
To those who criminalize our existences with hate speech and targetings,
To those who are trying to purge our flags and our traces from the streets,
To those who are charging our identities with various accusations,
To those who think that we are giving up on the İstanbul Convention,
We are once again reminding:
Get used to it! We are here and we are not going anywhere!
We will continue to fight against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, interphobia and all forms of discrimination, against the government's hate speech that has been intensifying since the beginning of the pandemic.
We are not accepting to be shown as the justification for withdrawing from the İstanbul Convention. We are not giving up the İstanbul Convention.
From Stonewall to Ülker Street; From Eryaman to Meis Site; From Mis to Bayram Street, from METU to Boğaziçi; we existed, existing and will continue to exist in all areas of life.
And we know that our lives, our bodies, our identities, our loves, our struggles do not recognize the limits imposed, we are much more than those limits.
Happy May 17 to LGBTI+'s and all those who fight against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, interphobia!
Just to spite hate, long live life!
17 Mayıs Derneği, Aydın LGBTİ+ Dayanışması, Boysan'ın Evi, Genç LGBTİ+ Gençlik Çalışmaları ve Dayanışma Derneği, Hêvî Hak, Eşitlik, Varoluş İçin LGBTİ+ Derneği, İstanbul LGBTİ+ Onur Haftası, Kaos GL Kültürel Araştırmalar ve Dayanışma Derneği, Lambdaistanbul LGBTİ+ Dayanışma Derneği, Muamma LGBTİ+ Eğitim, Araştırma ve Dayanışma Derneği, Pembe Hayat LGBTİ+ Dayanışma Derneği, Sosyal Politika, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği, Üniversiteli Kuir Araştırmaları ve LGBTİ+ Dayanışma Derneği
