Statement of Turkish Gay and Lesbian Labour Network
Gay & Lesbian Workers Network Of KAOS GL issued a statement before the first meeting of Turkish Gay and Lesbian Workers took place in Ankara, Turkey between October 29 and 31, 2004.
The problems of Gay & Lesbian workers and civil servants and their trade union based struggle have always been in the agenda of KAOS GL. One can clearly clarify this matter when (s)he covers the archives of KAOS GL and its work on the visibility of Gay & Lesbians in public places . One of the gay founders of KAOS GL is still a member of a trade union and that's why we have developed our knowledge and experience on trade unions and their activities. Besides, although most of the participants of KAOS GL are students, there have been a lot of workers and civil servants, too. Throughout the history of KAOS GL, commencing from its foundation, we have realised that there is a "Gay & Lesbian Workers Section" in some of the overseas Trade Unions. We believe it’s directly the Gay & Lesbian workers who should struggle against the sexual orientation discrimination in business life and trade unions.
CURRENT SITUATION
The current employed Gays & Lesbians continue to live "invisible" due to the fear of losing their jobs same as the ones who do not have jobs recently but have the fear of not being able to find one due to their sexual orientation. That's why Gays & Lesbians do not ever hold the total control of their lives. On the other hand, trade unions prefer to ignore the rights of Gays & Lesbians. Although the valid code of laws include the sexual discrimination, they do not define "discrimination on sexual orientation"
DISCRIMINATION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN BUSINESS LIFE
There is discrimination of sexual orientation against Gay & Lesbian workers in their working places, trade unions and also through code of laws applied to the business life. This discrimination may occur not only on the official basis but also through the bosses, managers, colleagues and trade union members. Since the fact of "Gay & Lesbian workers" is not accepted within the business life, this subject discrimination on sexual orientation occurs as an invisible- silent violence on gay & lesbians. Due to this invisible violence, gay & lesbians have to hide their sexual identity and have to be " invisible" in their working places and also in trade unions.
OUR AIM
We aim to create a working place and social life in which "Workers not hiding their sexual identity and Gay & Lesbians not hiding the fact of being a worker". We would like to see Gay & Lesbian workers and unemployed ones to be the effective participants of struggle held by the trade unions as well as the Gay & Lesbian movement. We believe we shall all share the idea of creating a world with much more freedom with the other gay & lesbian and anti-heterosexist workers all over the world.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
* We shall fight against the sexual orientation discrimination in working places.
* We shall collect evidence and organise the violence of Gay & Lesbian workers so as to make the discrimination on sexual orientation more "visible" to the public.
* We will arrange Awareness Seminars for Gay & Lesbian workers and civil servants so as to organise them to be a member of trade unions and associations that they can directly struggle against the problems and discrimination on sexual orientation.
* We will cooperate with trade unions and inform them the problems and discrimination which Gay & Lesbian workers face with in their working places as well as the trade unions.
* We will research on proving sexual orientation discrimination within the code of law and based upon this action, we shall try to work on the standardization of Turkish code of law according to international standards.
* We shall organise a "Trade Unions Meeting" as a part of KAOS GL Activities.
* We shall discuss the matter of "gender" and "compulsory heterosexism" with women in Trade Unions.
* Within the organisation of KAOS GL Helpline , we shall form a section called " Your Questions and Problems in business life" and we shall try to create solutions by the legal assistance of lawyers specialising in Trade Unions.
* For the problems of gays, lesbians and bisexuals who have got married or been forced to get married; we will work in cooperation with KAOS GL Family Commission.
HOW SHALL WE WORK?
* You do not have to be "Out" to join the Gay & Lesbian workers network of KAOS GL
* We shall organise meetings open to everyone and will inform these meetings in advance.
* We will cooperate to solve the common problems and try to find solutions without making classifications as "White collars" " Blue collars" of business life.
* We shall create discussion forums through the e-group of Gay & Lesbian workers network and aim to share information and experience among the members.
* You do not have to visit KAOS GL in person so as to be a part of this e-group of Gay & Lesbian network.
CONTACT
KAOS GL CULTURE CENTER
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari 29/12
Kizilay- Demirtepe / Ankara
Tel&Faks: 0312 230 0358
E-Mail: dergi@kaosgl.com geylezbiyenisci@hotmail.com
The problems of Gay & Lesbian workers and civil servants and their trade union based struggle have always been in the agenda of KAOS GL. One can clearly clarify this matter when (s)he covers the archives of KAOS GL and its work on the visibility of Gay & Lesbians in public places . One of the gay founders of KAOS GL is still a member of a trade union and that's why we have developed our knowledge and experience on trade unions and their activities. Besides, although most of the participants of KAOS GL are students, there have been a lot of workers and civil servants, too. Throughout the history of KAOS GL, commencing from its foundation, we have realised that there is a "Gay & Lesbian Workers Section" in some of the overseas Trade Unions. We believe it’s directly the Gay & Lesbian workers who should struggle against the sexual orientation discrimination in business life and trade unions.
CURRENT SITUATION
The current employed Gays & Lesbians continue to live "invisible" due to the fear of losing their jobs same as the ones who do not have jobs recently but have the fear of not being able to find one due to their sexual orientation. That's why Gays & Lesbians do not ever hold the total control of their lives. On the other hand, trade unions prefer to ignore the rights of Gays & Lesbians. Although the valid code of laws include the sexual discrimination, they do not define "discrimination on sexual orientation"
DISCRIMINATION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION IN BUSINESS LIFE
There is discrimination of sexual orientation against Gay & Lesbian workers in their working places, trade unions and also through code of laws applied to the business life. This discrimination may occur not only on the official basis but also through the bosses, managers, colleagues and trade union members. Since the fact of "Gay & Lesbian workers" is not accepted within the business life, this subject discrimination on sexual orientation occurs as an invisible- silent violence on gay & lesbians. Due to this invisible violence, gay & lesbians have to hide their sexual identity and have to be " invisible" in their working places and also in trade unions.
OUR AIM
We aim to create a working place and social life in which "Workers not hiding their sexual identity and Gay & Lesbians not hiding the fact of being a worker". We would like to see Gay & Lesbian workers and unemployed ones to be the effective participants of struggle held by the trade unions as well as the Gay & Lesbian movement. We believe we shall all share the idea of creating a world with much more freedom with the other gay & lesbian and anti-heterosexist workers all over the world.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
* We shall fight against the sexual orientation discrimination in working places.
* We shall collect evidence and organise the violence of Gay & Lesbian workers so as to make the discrimination on sexual orientation more "visible" to the public.
* We will arrange Awareness Seminars for Gay & Lesbian workers and civil servants so as to organise them to be a member of trade unions and associations that they can directly struggle against the problems and discrimination on sexual orientation.
* We will cooperate with trade unions and inform them the problems and discrimination which Gay & Lesbian workers face with in their working places as well as the trade unions.
* We will research on proving sexual orientation discrimination within the code of law and based upon this action, we shall try to work on the standardization of Turkish code of law according to international standards.
* We shall organise a "Trade Unions Meeting" as a part of KAOS GL Activities.
* We shall discuss the matter of "gender" and "compulsory heterosexism" with women in Trade Unions.
* Within the organisation of KAOS GL Helpline , we shall form a section called " Your Questions and Problems in business life" and we shall try to create solutions by the legal assistance of lawyers specialising in Trade Unions.
* For the problems of gays, lesbians and bisexuals who have got married or been forced to get married; we will work in cooperation with KAOS GL Family Commission.
HOW SHALL WE WORK?
* You do not have to be "Out" to join the Gay & Lesbian workers network of KAOS GL
* We shall organise meetings open to everyone and will inform these meetings in advance.
* We will cooperate to solve the common problems and try to find solutions without making classifications as "White collars" " Blue collars" of business life.
* We shall create discussion forums through the e-group of Gay & Lesbian workers network and aim to share information and experience among the members.
* You do not have to visit KAOS GL in person so as to be a part of this e-group of Gay & Lesbian network.
CONTACT
KAOS GL CULTURE CENTER
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari 29/12
Kizilay- Demirtepe / Ankara
Tel&Faks: 0312 230 0358
E-Mail: dergi@kaosgl.com geylezbiyenisci@hotmail.com
