LGBTIs are not alone in this struggle

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The LGBTI Rights Pledge, which the Social Policies, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Studies Association (SPoD) has opened for signatures by candidates running for parliament membership on the June 7 general elections, has received 40 signatures. Candidates such as Şafak Pavey, Musa Çam, and Deva Özenen declared that LGBTIs are not alone in this struggle.

This week, another 6 signatures were added to the LGBTI Rights Pledge, which the Social Policies, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Studies Association (SPoD) has opened for signatures by candidates running for parliament membership on the June 7 general elections. The number of signatures on the Pledge has reached 40 with the recent additions by Şafak Pavey (MP candidate for Istanbul from the CHP*), Zeynep Altıok (MP candidate for Izmir from the CHP), Musa Çam (MP candidate for Izmir from the CHP), Deva Özenen (MP candidate for Izmir from Anadolu Party), Ali Haydar Konca (MP candidate for Kocaeli from the HDP**), and Sevda Özer (MP candidate for Kocaeli from HDP).

Şafak Pavey, CHP’s MP candidate for Istanbul, reported that she will continue defending LGBTI rights as she did before and that she will carry the responsibilities brought on by this signature with honor.

Deva Özenen, trans MP candidate [from Anadolu Party], also signed the Pledge. The Pledge was initiated as part of the LGBTI in the Parliament campaign, the goal of which is to increase the visibility of rights violations experienced by LGBTIs and to realize the dream of a Turkey where no one experiences oppression on the basis of their identity. To Özenen, who is an MP candidate for Izmir from Anadolu Party, the inclusion of LGBTI in the Parliament is of grave importance in terms of the LGBTI struggle. Özenen said that the struggle within the Party [for LGBTIs] is as valuable as that in the Parliament. Özenen added that her work during the candidacy process succeeded in undoing many politicians’ prejudices and changing their attitudes towards LGBTI rights.

Musa Çam, MP candidate for Izmir from CHP, met with SPoD LGBTI representatives and was briefed on the LGBTI in the Parliament campaign. Çam emphasized that LGBTI rights are basic human rights and said: “Like other groups who are discriminated against, we will continue defending the rights of LGBTIs. We will do our best to eliminate repressive and discriminatory policies directed against them and to realize a society where they can live as equal citizens.”

Sevda Özer and Ali Haydar Konca, MP candidates for Kocaeli from HDP, reported in their statement following their signature of the pledge that LGBTI individuals are not alone in this struggle and that anyone who finds guidance in liberties should support this struggle.

Below is a list of the candidates who have signed the pledge so far:

  1. Ahmet Akar, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  2. Ali Haydar Konca, MP Candidate for Kocaeli from HDP
  3. Ali Tanrıverdi, MP Candidate for Mersin from HDP
  4. Aydın Erdoğan, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  5. Aylin Nazlıaka, MP Candidate for Ankara from CHP
  6. Batuhan Aydagül, MP Candidate for Istanbul, Independent
  7. Betül Kurnaz Kılınç, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  8. Çilem Öz, MP Candidate for Mersin from HDP
  9. Deva Özenen, MP Candidate for Izmir from Anadolu Party
  10.  Elif Bulut, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  11.  Elif Şahsın Sırlıoğlu, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  12.  Enis Berberoğlu, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  13.  Erdal Ataş, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  14.  Filiz Kerestecioğlu, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  15.  Gül Yüksel, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  16.  Gülsüm Ağaoğlu, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  17.  Güven Atabay, MP Candidate for Ordu from HDP
  18.  Hasan Şimşek, MP Candidate for Edirne from HDP
  19.  Hülya İmak, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  20.  Hülya Yer, MP Candidate for Edirne from HDP
  21.  İnan Güney, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  22.  İnciser Alptekin, MP Candidate for Istanbul from HDP
  23.  Latife Ulutaş, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  24.  Mahmut Karabulut, MP Candidate for Mersin from HDP
  25.  Melda Onur, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  26.  Musa Çam, MP Candidate for Izmir from CHP
  27.  Necdet Bali, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  28.  Özlem Şen, MP Candidate for Mersin from HDP
  29.  Perihan Yücekaya, MP Candidate for Malatya from HDP
  30.  Pınar Aydınlar, MP Candidate for Izrim from HDP
  31.  Pınar Türk, MP Candidate for Izmir from HDP
  32.  Sedat Zımba, MP Candidate for Edirne from HDP
  33.  Selin Sayek Böke, MP Candidate for Izmir from CHP
  34.  Selina Doğan, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  35.  Semra Uzunok, MP Candidate for Izmir from HDP
  36.  Sevda Özer, MP Candidate for Kocaeli from HDP
  37.  Şafak Pavey, MP Candidate for Istanbul from CHP
  38.  Ülkü Yalçınkaya, MP Candidate for Izmir from HDP
  39.  Zelal Demir, MP Candidate for Ankara from HDP
  40.  Zeynep Altıok, MP Candidate for Izmir from CHP

MEHTAP DOĞAN, Media Director

Media Partner Communication Consultancy

[email protected]


Update 4 June 2015: An updated list of LGBTI Rights Pledge signatories can be found here.

* Republican People’s Party

** People’s Democratic Party

LGBTI NEWS TURKEY is the official translation source for SPoD LGBTI’s “In school, at work, in the parliament: LGBTIs are everywhere!” campaign, which is endorsed by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

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