LGBT activists defy Istanbul ban on Pride Parade
ISTANBUL — Turkish police stopped LGBT activists from gathering in large numbers for a pride event in Istanbul on Sunday, but smaller groups made impromptu media statements, defying a ban imposed by the governor.
Organizers of the 2017 Istanbul Pride had pledged to march in central Taksim Square, using a Turkish hashtag for “we march,” despite the ban on Gay Pride observances ordered by the Istanbul governor’s office for the third year in a row.
Police established checkpoints in the area, preventing groups from entering Istiklal Avenue and turning back individuals who were deemed to be associated with the planned march. Small groups assembled on side streets were chased away by officers.
At least a hundred protesters gathered in a nearby neighborhood, beating drums and chanting, “Don’t be quiet, shout out, gays exist!” They carried a banner that read, “Get used to, we are here.”
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and activists said plastic bullets were also used. Riot-control vehicles and buses were dispatched to the area. Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency said an estimated 20 people were detained.
In banning the event Saturday, the governor’s office cited safety and public order. It also said a valid parade application had not been filed for Sunday’s event, a claim rejected by organizers.
The governor’s ban referred to “serious reactions by different segments of society” as several nationalist and religious groups called for the march’s cancellation.
Pride organizers said in a statement Sunday that the threats themselves should be dealt with rather than limiting demonstrations. “Our security will be provided by recognizing us in the constitution, by securing justice, by equality and freedom,” the statement said.
LGBT activists have lobbied for years to have sexual orientation and gender identity covered by Turkish laws protecting civil rights and prohibiting hate speech, but the clauses have not been included in updated legislation. Homosexuality has been legal in Turkey since the republic’s founding more than nine decades ago.
The Turkish government says there is no discrimination against LGBT individuals and that current laws already protect each citizen. It also insists that perpetrators of hate crimes are prosecuted.
Turkish authorities allowed Pride marches to take place for more than a decade since the first one was held in 2003. Up to 100,000 people attended Istanbul Pride in 2014.