Turkey's LGBT History - 2004
Spring 2004. Meetings and Symposia Held in Various Cities
In the spring of 2004, Kaos GL convened meetings in the cities of Diyarbakir, Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul in order to unite lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals with human rights activists.
University-supported symposia included "To Understand Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation in Turkey", held May 7, 2004, at Istanbul Bilgi University, and "Turkey, Identity, Queer", held for two days in April 2004 at the University of Bosphorus.
January 2004. Turkish Parliament Justice Commission Proposes Criminalizing "Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation"
On January 29, 2004, Turkey's Parliamentary Justice Commission voted to alter the discrimination clause in the Penal Code to designate "discrimination based on sexual orientation" a crime. It would encompass services, housing, and employment. Turkish LGBT activists praised the proposal. If it had been passed into law, Turkey would have become the first predominantly Muslim country to pass such progressive human rights legislation.
July 2004. Turkish Parliament Justice Commission Rules Out Anti-discrimination Proposal
On July 6, 2004, the Parliamentary Justice Commission decided to replace the discrimination clause in the Penal Code with the existing discrimination clause in the Constitution (Article No.10). While prohibiting discrimination based on language, race, skin color, gender, political opinion, religion, denomination, and similar reasons, the Constitution does not directly refer to sexual orientation.
July 2004. International Group Advocates Penal Code Reform as Part of Turkey’s European Union (EU) Membership Application
In July, 2004, the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Europe (ILGA Europe) asked the EU Presidency to ensure that the Turkish Penal Code be amended to criminalize discrimination against LGBT people.
September 2004. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgendered People Protest Legislation
On September 15, 2004, demonstrators from LGBT groups marched alongside women’s rights groups in front of the Turkish Parliament to protest proposed legislation which makes no reference to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
October 2004. European Union Report on Turkey Barely Mentions LGBT Discrimination
The 2004 Regular Report on Turkey's Progress towards Accession, published October 6, 2004, addressed various problems concerning Turkey. Although discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was mentioned twice in the report, the language was vague and the problems of the Turkish LGBT community were not mentioned at all.
October 2004. Formation of Gay and Lesbian Workers Network
Gay & Lesbian Workers Network of Kaos GL was formed and it held its first meeting in Ankara between October 29 and 31, 2004.
October 2004. First Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Held in Istanbul
Istanbul held its first gay and lesbian film festival, "OutIstanbul, 1st International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival", from October 1-6, 2004.
In the spring of 2004, Kaos GL convened meetings in the cities of Diyarbakir, Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul in order to unite lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals with human rights activists.
University-supported symposia included "To Understand Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation in Turkey", held May 7, 2004, at Istanbul Bilgi University, and "Turkey, Identity, Queer", held for two days in April 2004 at the University of Bosphorus.
January 2004. Turkish Parliament Justice Commission Proposes Criminalizing "Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation"
On January 29, 2004, Turkey's Parliamentary Justice Commission voted to alter the discrimination clause in the Penal Code to designate "discrimination based on sexual orientation" a crime. It would encompass services, housing, and employment. Turkish LGBT activists praised the proposal. If it had been passed into law, Turkey would have become the first predominantly Muslim country to pass such progressive human rights legislation.
July 2004. Turkish Parliament Justice Commission Rules Out Anti-discrimination Proposal
On July 6, 2004, the Parliamentary Justice Commission decided to replace the discrimination clause in the Penal Code with the existing discrimination clause in the Constitution (Article No.10). While prohibiting discrimination based on language, race, skin color, gender, political opinion, religion, denomination, and similar reasons, the Constitution does not directly refer to sexual orientation.
July 2004. International Group Advocates Penal Code Reform as Part of Turkey’s European Union (EU) Membership Application
In July, 2004, the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Europe (ILGA Europe) asked the EU Presidency to ensure that the Turkish Penal Code be amended to criminalize discrimination against LGBT people.
September 2004. Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgendered People Protest Legislation
On September 15, 2004, demonstrators from LGBT groups marched alongside women’s rights groups in front of the Turkish Parliament to protest proposed legislation which makes no reference to discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
October 2004. European Union Report on Turkey Barely Mentions LGBT Discrimination
The 2004 Regular Report on Turkey's Progress towards Accession, published October 6, 2004, addressed various problems concerning Turkey. Although discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was mentioned twice in the report, the language was vague and the problems of the Turkish LGBT community were not mentioned at all.
October 2004. Formation of Gay and Lesbian Workers Network
Gay & Lesbian Workers Network of Kaos GL was formed and it held its first meeting in Ankara between October 29 and 31, 2004.
October 2004. First Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Held in Istanbul
Istanbul held its first gay and lesbian film festival, "OutIstanbul, 1st International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival", from October 1-6, 2004.