Initiative Against Homophobia Supports All Campaigners in Turkey Fighting for Hate Murders

Initiative Against Homophobia is saddened by the murders of seven transsexuals and five gay men in the past seven months in Turkey. People who commit hate murders base their motivation on a person’s race, colour, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity. We condemn these murders and want precautions to be taken before any other similar crimes are committed. In this sense we show endless support to all the campaigners in Turkey campaigning against hate murders. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transvestite people are invisible in our country due to all forms of existing social and legal oppression. For this reason, the dark side of sexism, homophobia and transphobia is not visible in our everyday life. However, we also know that as the visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and transvestite individuals increases, the violence of intolerable and fascist people will also increase. As Initiative Against Homophobia we are aware that we will face such pressures during our struggle for visibility. To be able to fight this oppression, we must keep our struggle of solidarity and public opposition strong. Additionally the Penal Code which criminalizes homosexuality should be revised within contemporary norms and human rights, and criminal sanctions for hate crimes should also be added.