northwest
A Pride with No Feathers
Native Portlander recounts experiences
at Turkey's anti-homophobia march
C1NSEL
by Mija Sanders
CÌNSÌYET
s the Portland waterfront becomes a
The structural oppression that sexual minority or
fray
tribute to taking pride in being part
ganizations are experiencing can be observed through
esque
A
of a sexual or gender minority, could
the actions taken by the governor of Istanbul.
between statu
shouting for an end
we be taking our freedoms for granted?
As of May 29, a Turkish court has ordered
to transphobia, les
While thousands gather to watch a
the Lambda Istanbul Lesbian Gay Bisexual and
bians shouting for a
parade and lend visibility to the fight for
mar
Transvestites
Solidarity Association to close
riage and equal treatment under the law, queers
in other comers of the world, like Turkey, fight
simply to exist.
a YRIMCIL
trans women
Gays and allies march with the passion of a thousand in Ankara, Turkey.
voice and young men holding hands, shouting
brought me to tears. I felt joyous for marching not
down because the group’s title violates public
alternating chants for gay recognition, 1 clutched
only for myself but for my Turkish friends—for
morality laws, but the case will continue to the
my camera, taking in the historic moment. Al
everyone who has no voice—to show the Turkish
Supreme Court of Appeals. Additionally, Turkey
though outnumbered and nearly overwhelmed by
government we simply exist. The march inspired
Chaos Gay Lesbian—a queer nongovernmen
suffers from a continued lack of visibility on the
the teams of police escorting our every move, the
participants to imagine a world where everyone
tal organization in Ankara, Turkey—held its an
part of gays and lesbians, transphobia within the
group continued to gain volume with its voices
demands their human rights from their govern
nual international anti-homophobia conference
community itself and a continued lack of political
and rainbow flags, which, for the first time on An
ments, even in Turkey.
May 16. Much like Portland Pride, the confer
activism, stemming from fear. Many point the fin
kara streets, outnumbered Turkish flags.
ence is a place to celebrate sexualities, march in
ger at the AKP, Turkey’s ruling conservative Is
During the march I met fellow foreign activ
fashion with the queer women of Anatolia appeals
the street, have political discussions about gay
lamic Justice and Development party, for com
ists from Mexico, Holland, Sweden and Italy.
to you, or you’d like to sit with Turkish queers in
rights and party. But imagine a Pride parade with
ing down hard on gay visibility. Trans people
A swarm of media cameras raced after us, film
the hamam, smoking from hookahs and sipping
no music, no leather, no chaps, nor feathers nor
say random violence on the part of the police
ing gay European Union Member of Parliament
chay while overlooking the meeting point of two
wands nor whips, no Dykes on Bikes, no mayors,
is on the rise.
If the idea of belly-dancing in true Turkish
Michael Cashman, who held the leading banner.
continents, then pack your bags lightly. Leave the
no children, no commercial advertising. In this
I participated in the anti-homophobia march
The march ended 45 minutes later at Ataturk
leather chaps at home, throw a rainbow flag over
city with a population of 4 million, 100 people
in Ankara, finding myself at the tail end of the
Boulevard, where police instructed marchers to
march with the passion of a thousand.
march, pushing my way through a tight mass of
walk away in groups of 10, asking participants to
your shoulders, and board the plane to Turkey’s
next Pride. ©
Turkey’s queer community is facing “systemat
riot police, squeezing past their machine guns to
dismantle banners and flags.
ic violence,” according to Human Rights Watch.
join the shouting voices ahead. Jumping into the
The pride 1 felt at the march in Ankara nearly
M ija S anders is a Portland writer living in Istanbul.
Peak
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