KADEM (Women and Democracy Association) known for its close connection to AKP (Justice and Development Party), targeted the CHP (Republican People’s Party) municipalities that shared messages of support for Pride Week with sexist statements.
Source: “LGBTI+ reaction from KADEM to CHP municipalities: legitimizing perverted orientations”, (KADEM’den CHP’li belediyelere LGBTİ+ tepkisi: Sapkın yönelimler meşrulaştırılıyor), artigercek.com, July 1, 2019, https://www.artigercek.com/haberler/kadem-den-cinsiyetci-aciklama?fbclid=IwAR2p0d9Xiweij4Ybx14_mSdLYVIJFJ7Sxsv6rBQi52VeI6zHh_SRsHHTWog
ARTI GERÇEK- KADEM, led by President Tayyip Erdoğan’s daughter Sümeyye Erdoğan, targeted CHP municipalities that shared messages of support for the 27th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week.
In KADEM’s official Twitter account sexist expressions such as “perverted orientations” were used to refer to LGBTI+ individuals.
The nationwide statements of support by CHP municipalities for Pride Week were “an attack on future generations, society’s beliefs and values” according to KADEM:
“CHP municipalities have started publishing statements that praise and legitimize homosexuality on social media. Recognized as prepared and planned by a common source, these statements are not acceptable. To praise homosexuality is to legitimize perverted orientations that fall outside the reality of existence. Thus, these statements attack future generations, society’s beliefs and values. As KADEM, with reference to our national and spiritual values, we work with sensitivity in preserving healthy generations. We will fight against all kinds of ideas and entities that threaten the family.”
What happened?
As part of Pride Week, the CHP municipalities nationwide shared the statement “Hate will lose, love will win” to show support.
A few of the statements are as follows:
In spite of hate, long live life!#Pride2019
https://twitter.com/i/status/1144917560451850242
— Datça Municipality (@datcabelediyesi) June 29, 2019
Not Hate but Love will Win! #Pride #Pride2019
— Hopa Municipality (@BelediyesiHopa) June 29, 2019
We are Equal! We are strong together. Not hate, but love will win. #Pride2019 pic.twitter.com/XmKUfYudqf
— Kemalpaşa Municipality (@kemalpasabld) June 29, 2019
Not hate, but love will win! #Pride2019
— Borçka Municipality (@Borckabel) June 29, 2019
We will always work for an equal and just city, country and world. We are one, equal, stronger together.
Happy LGBTI+ Pride Week. #pride2019
— Şişli Municipality (@sislibelediyesi) June 28, 2019
No matter the circumstance,
Against all,
For all,
And always
Love will win!
— Maltepe Municipality (@MaltepeBelTr) June 28, 2019
Love will win… #Pride2019
— Germencik Municipality ( AYDIN ) (@GermencikBLD) June 29, 2019
The world is beautiful with all its colors. Love will save the World; everything starts by loving one person… #Pride2019
— Kartal Municipality (@kartalbld) June 30, 2019
The world is beautiful with all its colors. In spite of hate, love will win! #Pride2019 pic.twitter.com/hylyqftEln
— Didim Municipality (@DidimBelediye) June 30, 2019
We love all the colors of our neighborhood. #Pride2019
— Beşiktaş Municipality (@BesiktasBel) June 30, 2019
Rainbow against darkness! #Pride2019
— Fethiye Municipality (@fethiyebelediye) June 29, 2019