Turkey's LGBT History - 2000 - 2003
2000-Present. New LGBT Groups Form in Smaller Turkish Cities
Following the establishment of LGBT organizations in Ankara and Istanbul, new organizations began to appear in other cities, including Pink Triangle Group in Izmir and Rainbow Group in Antalya. Groups serving specific needs within the LGBT community such as Bear Anatolia and Bears of Turkey have also become more active in the recent years. With the help of the Internet and other communication technologies, the number of LGBT organizations that target different aims and interests is expected to increase.
May 2001. First Time Turkish Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders Openly Participate in Public Demonstration
Kaos GL participated in the May Day labor demonstrations in Ankara under its own banner and signs. This was the first time that a Turkish LGBT group participated in a public forum. It also paved the way for Lambda Istanbul to join the May Day labor demonstrations in Istanbul in 2002 for the first time.
March 2003. First Turkish LGBT Library Established
An LGBT library was founded in March 2003, at the Lambda Istanbul Cultural Center. It includes almost 1,000 books, as well as human rights reports about LGBT issues, articles about LGBT/queer politics, the publications of some Turkish NGOs, and LGBT-themed movies.
May 2003. Important Symposia Held Concerning LGBT Issues
In May 2003, a symposium entitled "Music and Gender Politics" was held at the Lambda Istanbul Cultural Center.
Also in May 2003, the "Symposium about Discrimination and Violence towards Gays and Lesbians" was held in Istanbul’s Bilgi University. Participants included Lambda Istanbul, Bear Anatolia, and academics. During the symposium, discrimination against LGBT people in psychiatry, law, psychology, sociology, and social work was analyzed. Workshop topics also included "Problems of Transvestites and Transsexuals" and "Invisibility of Lesbians”.
June 2003. First Public LGBT Pride March Held in Istanbul
In June 2003, Lambda Istanbul celebrated its tenth Gay Pride week and the anniversary of its establishment. For the first time in Turkey’s history, about 50 LGBT activists marched down Istiklal Street in Istanbul. They also issued a press statement at the end of the parade that stated that “The Right to Live Proud” is an indispensable part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The statement also indicated the range of problems that Turkish LGBT people continue to face in their lives. Other events followed the parade, including the traditional pride party, the showing of the legendary movie “Stonewall”, a symposium and a poetry recital. Since 2003, Lambda Istanbul has organized yearly pride march and events in Istanbul.
September 2003. Lambda Istanbul Joins an International Conference in Istanbul
On September 27, 2003 Lambda Istanbul participated in the "International Congress of the Institute of Forensic Sciences" and joined a symposium addressing "Murders towards Gays and Lesbians".
Following the establishment of LGBT organizations in Ankara and Istanbul, new organizations began to appear in other cities, including Pink Triangle Group in Izmir and Rainbow Group in Antalya. Groups serving specific needs within the LGBT community such as Bear Anatolia and Bears of Turkey have also become more active in the recent years. With the help of the Internet and other communication technologies, the number of LGBT organizations that target different aims and interests is expected to increase.
May 2001. First Time Turkish Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders Openly Participate in Public Demonstration
Kaos GL participated in the May Day labor demonstrations in Ankara under its own banner and signs. This was the first time that a Turkish LGBT group participated in a public forum. It also paved the way for Lambda Istanbul to join the May Day labor demonstrations in Istanbul in 2002 for the first time.
March 2003. First Turkish LGBT Library Established
An LGBT library was founded in March 2003, at the Lambda Istanbul Cultural Center. It includes almost 1,000 books, as well as human rights reports about LGBT issues, articles about LGBT/queer politics, the publications of some Turkish NGOs, and LGBT-themed movies.
May 2003. Important Symposia Held Concerning LGBT Issues
In May 2003, a symposium entitled "Music and Gender Politics" was held at the Lambda Istanbul Cultural Center.
Also in May 2003, the "Symposium about Discrimination and Violence towards Gays and Lesbians" was held in Istanbul’s Bilgi University. Participants included Lambda Istanbul, Bear Anatolia, and academics. During the symposium, discrimination against LGBT people in psychiatry, law, psychology, sociology, and social work was analyzed. Workshop topics also included "Problems of Transvestites and Transsexuals" and "Invisibility of Lesbians”.
June 2003. First Public LGBT Pride March Held in Istanbul
In June 2003, Lambda Istanbul celebrated its tenth Gay Pride week and the anniversary of its establishment. For the first time in Turkey’s history, about 50 LGBT activists marched down Istiklal Street in Istanbul. They also issued a press statement at the end of the parade that stated that “The Right to Live Proud” is an indispensable part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The statement also indicated the range of problems that Turkish LGBT people continue to face in their lives. Other events followed the parade, including the traditional pride party, the showing of the legendary movie “Stonewall”, a symposium and a poetry recital. Since 2003, Lambda Istanbul has organized yearly pride march and events in Istanbul.
September 2003. Lambda Istanbul Joins an International Conference in Istanbul
On September 27, 2003 Lambda Istanbul participated in the "International Congress of the Institute of Forensic Sciences" and joined a symposium addressing "Murders towards Gays and Lesbians".