Solidarity campaign on the Istanbul Pride

The first "Pride March" in the Turkish city of Istanbul took place in 2003. Supported by the Gezi Park demonstrators and an amazingly sympathetic coverage in the media, ten years later it lured nearly 100,000 people to the streets. The demonstration became an important symbol for the visibility and spirit of the LGBTTIQ community in Turkey. At the same time, the Istanbul Pride set a shining example of diversity, which had a far-reaching impact on the Near and Middle East.

For the many years the march had always been peaceful, but the political and social situation in Turkey has changed. Since 2015, the Pride Marchers have been repeatedly and brutally beaten by police using tear gas, rubber bullets and arrests. The images of the brutal state power on one side and fleeing demonstrators on the other were broadcast around the world. 

Civil courage against hatred and violence
For the rainbow community on the Bosporus, there are almost no fundamental democratic rights. Events are banned with the justification for "public safety and morality", as for example the LSBTTIQ film days which the German embassy in Ankara organized in November 2017. 
Nevertheless, activists plan to bring their protest to the streets in 2018 once again. Stronger than their fear of repression is their rage over the violent attacks and repression pursued by the state. Over the past eight years in Turkey, more than 40 people have been murdered solely for their transsexuality.

We can help
Therefore we stand together in solidarity with the Istanbul Pride: 

For the “Expedition WIR [Our Journey]” on the Bosporus, we are collecting funds to support the public relations of Pride Istanbul Comittee and the activists of SPoD (Sosyal Political Armed Forces, Cinsiyet Kimliği ve Cinsel Yönelim Çalışmaları Derneği – www.spod.org.tr/ and www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i71NA1Yt7o).). As part of the Pride Movement in Turkey, SPoD is comitted to promoting Gender Equality and Human Rights advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and since December 2015, has been holding weekly Arabic meetings for Syrian LGBTTIQ refugees in Istanbul.