Turkey: Stop Violence Against Transgender People

Multiple Murders Highlight Inadequate State Protection

For Immediate Release

Contacts:

In Ankara, Kemal Ördek, (Turkish, English), Pembe Hayat LGBTT Solidarity Association, Telephone: +90 554 465 57 29 In Brussels, Juris Lavrikovs (English, Russian), the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Telephone: +32 2 609 54 16 In New York, Juliana Cano Nieto (English, Spanish), Human Rights Watch, Telephone: +1 212 216 1233

In New York, Hossein Alizadeh (English, Persian), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Telephone: +1 212 430 6016

(Ankara, February 22, 2010)—The recent murders of two transgender women in Turkey highlight an ongoing pattern of violence and the urgent need for stronger protection measures by the government, four Turkish and international human rights organizations said today in a letter to Turkish authorities.

The groups called on Turkey to remedy the conditions that place transgender people at risk from acts of violence by enacting anti-discrimination protections, instituting programs to combat prejudice and hatred, and repealing laws that provide an opportunity for police to harass stigmatized groups. The letter was sent by Pembe Hayat "Pink Life," Human Rights Watch, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe), and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

"Protecting people and preventing violence means more than investigating after the fact," said Juliana Cano Nieto, researcher in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights program of Human Rights Watch. "Without meaningful government action to affirm their rights and ensure their safety, transgender people in Turkey will continue to live in fear."

Since November 2008, at least eight transgender people have been murdered in Istanbul and Ankara. The most recent killing was of a transgender woman called Aycan Yener on Feburary 16, 2010, in the Fatih area of Istanbul. Yener, whose legal given name was Fevzi, was killed in her apartment. Her throat was slit, and she was stabbed 17 times. Assailants also stabbed her roommate, Seyhan Özmemiş, 32, who survived. According to Turkish media, witnesses reportedly observed three people fleeing the scene, but no one has been arrested.

On February 8, Derya Y., a 35-year old transgender woman, was killed in her home in the Altındağ district of Antalya. Police found Derya Y. in her bedroom with her throat cut and multiple knife stab wounds to her face and body.

The targeted killings of transgender women are part of a broader pattern of violence against LGBT people in Turkey. According to Turkish media, the police found 56-year old Şinasi Halimoğlu, who had arranged a date with another man, dead on his bed on January 28 with multiple knife wounds to his back and neck.

In the wake of the killings, the police have made efforts to investigate and resolve these crimes. In two of the earlier cases, suspects were caught and prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison and in two other cases suspects are in pre-trial detention. The remaining murders are being investigated. However little has been done to protect LGBT people in Turkey, especially transgender people, from future acts of violence, the groups said.

In the letter, the organizations recommended:

Enacting anti-discrimination legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as a legal protection;

Disaggregate statistics on violence figures that show violence against LGBT people; and

Instituting consistent communication between the police and LGBT rights groups.

"All citizens of Turkey, including transgender citizens, are entitled to live without fear of murder or persecution," said Hossein Alizadeh, Coordinator of IGLHRC’s Middle East and North Africa program. "The homophobic killings need to stop, and for this we need the Turkish government to take concrete action to protect transgender people."

European bodies have called on Turkey, a member of the Council of Europe, and on other states to protect LGBT people from violence. The European Union, to which Turkey is seeking admission, adopted a progress report this month, reminding the Turkish government of the need to safeguard all minorities, including LGBT people. Similarly, in 2009, the commissioner for human rights in the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, urged all member States to enact legislation that would protect transgender people from attacks and violence.

"The Turkish government should stop ignoring demands by Pembe Hayat and other LGBT’s in Turkey to take measures to stop ongoing transgender killings," said Kemal Ördek member of Pink Life. "The Constitution and the Penal Code need to guarantee equality and non-discrimination. The Government in turn needs to stop hate murders against transgender people and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity."

Human rights groups like Pembe Hayat have documented a long history of police abuse in Turkey, as well as violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity by state and private actors. In 2008, Human Rights Watch issued reports on violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and on police violence, including harassment and abuse against transgender people in Istanbul.

ILGA-Europe will visit Turkey in April to assess Turkey’s compliance with its European and international human rights obligations toward LGBT people and to document the violence, discrimination and other obstacles they face in Turkey. The organization has asked the authorities to discuss proposed measures to address the human rights concerns of the Turkish LGBT population.

"Turkey is witnessing ongoing violence and hate against LGBT people," said Silvan Agius, ILGA-Europe’s senior policy officer responsible for transgender equality. "The Turkish government’s response needs to address the problems at their roots by tackling the severe stigma against LGBT people, social exclusion and poverty on the one hand, and the culture of gender stereotypes that is driving the violence and hate on the other."

For more information please contact:

In Ankara, Kemal Ördek, (Turkish, English), Pembe Hayat LGBTT Solidarity Association, Telephone: +90 554 465 57 29 In Brussels, Juris Lavrikovs (English, Russian), the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Telephone: +32 2 609 54 16 In New York, Juliana Cano Nieto (English, Spanish), Human Rights Watch, Telephone: +1 212 216 1233 In New York, Hossein Alizadeh (English, Persian), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Telephone: +1 212 430 6016

LINK TO: Letter written to Turkish Prime Minister 

Being Turkish And Being Gay

A Turkish man spills his guts and sheds some tears discussing his attempt to gain acceptance from his father.

We need new approach to solve problems with economy

The possible demise of fashion chain Republic, which puts 2,500 jobs at risk after it was put into administration (Metro, Thu), adds to fears the economic crisis is here for the foreseeable future. Indeed, it will last as long as we continue to impoverish the majority of our population.

For the past 30 years, we have followed economic policies that suck national income and wealth towards those who need it least, the affluent. According to some estimates wages are now so low the majority of British households have been forced into the position of needing benefits just to get by. Such misery impoverishes the government through reduced taxes and the high street via diminished spending.

The root cause of the crisis is the huge increase of inequality from which our nation suffers. There is now too little wealth at the foundations of our society to support our way of life. To get out of this depression, we need a new approach. Kevin Albertson, economist, Manchester Metropolitan University

I hope all the Tory supporters were listening to the comments from Sir Mervyn King, the outgoing governor of the Bank of England, on high rates of inflation and the state of the economy (Metro.co.uk, Wed). He was essentially telling chancellor George Osborne that focusing on growth rather than austerity is actually the way to improve our economy.

Since 2003, hourly rates of pay have decreased, along with the projected level of income. And it looks like inflation will stay high until 2016. This could lead to higher levels of unemployment, yet the government doesn’t appear to have any solutions.

So how can Tory supporters possibly believe Mr Osborne has a clue about what to do with Britain’s economy? ST Vaughan, Birmingham

Tragic event

I was sad to see four-year-old Morgan Phelan died of meningitis after a hospital said she had a ‘bad cold’ (Metro, Wed).

Meningitis and septicaemia are notoriously difficult to diagnose and can kill in hours but she had a rash, which is often a clear indicator of septicaemia, the blood poisoning form of the disease.

On behalf of Meningitis UK, which represents families who have experienced the devastation caused by meningitis and associated diseases, I pass on our sympathies to Morgan’s family. Steve Dayman, founder, Meningitis UK

Real lesson of 9/11? Ban gay marriage, Christian author says

Real lesson of 9/11? Ban gay marriage, Christian author says

6th FEBRUARY 2013 | BY JOE MORGAN.

Author believes God 'allowed' 9/11 to happen as a 'wakeup call' to ban same-sex marriages across America. 

What was the real lesson of 9/11?  Well one Christian author believes the 11 September attacks back in 2001 were a ‘wakeup call’ to ban all same-sex marriages across America. 

Jonathan Cahn, who appeared alongside televangelist Joni Lamb on Daystar to promote his new book The Harbinger. 

In the book, he uses biblical prophecy about ancient Israel to say God ‘allowed’ 9/11 to take place because of the country’s sins.

In response to Lamb’s question about the three states who voted for marriage equality at the ballot box in November 2012, Cahn said we did not receive God’s message about 9/11. 

He said, in video acquired by Right Wing Watch: ‘We’re watching rapidly since 9/11, America depart from God and it’s becoming, just like Israel did, it became almost like a pagan nation, we America are forgetting our foundation and it’s becoming almost the same as a pagan nation. 

‘But to whom much is given, much is required; so if we go this route, God is warning and God is calling.’ 

In his January message, Cahn said the 2012 election, which saw President Barack Obama re-elected, will ‘accelerate’ divine judgment on America. Unless people start buying his book. 

‘Until 2012, the proposal to end the biblical definition of marriage had never won a popular vote. Every time the issue had been raised in an election, the biblical definition of marriage had been upheld, 32 out of 32 times,’ he said. 

‘That all changed in November 2012…for the first time in America’s history the majority of Americans declared their opposition to the biblical definition of marriage.’

Cahn added: ‘It’s hard not to agree that this was a huge turning point, a tipping point of a year. I don’t believe it’s an accident that it was in the same year, 2012, the year of this tipping point in America’s departure from God, that The Harbinger was released. The word of warning continues to go forth, and is coming true.’

Currently nine states – Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington – have legalized marriage equality.

What can I possibly say about Jonathan Cahn other than he is a total moron? Seriously, he believes that God sent a message and we missed it? But this is not the first time that such views have been heard. For centuries the Pagan way has been damned by people like Jonathan Cahn, as evil, and that to be Pagan means to have no faith, to be godless, and therefore, dangerous.

People like Jonathan Cahn have engaged in their own forms of inquisitions and have committed, under the guise of Christianity and what they deem to be God's wishes, unwarranted arrests, treachery, robbery, beatings, rape, torture, imprisonment upon people like the Wicca's, Africans, First Nation People of North and South America, Asians and a wide variety of religious and social minorities.

UPDATE: 12 FEB 2012

JUST SO OTHER RELIGIONS DON'T FEEL LEFT OUT......

Muslim channel punished for saying ‘gays should be tortured’ British communications watchdog has punished several minor channels for allowing extremist attitudes to air unchallenged12 FEBRUARY 2013 | BY JOE MORGAN, DAN LITTAUER Fringe Muslim television channels in the UK have been reprimanded for allowing extremists to say their views unchallenged, such as gay people should be tortured. Regulatory watchdog OFCOM has found the stations broke the broadcasting code by allowing the extreme opinions to be aired. In one case, a female presenter said homosexuals should be beaten and tortured for the ‘evil, shameful act’. The Radio Asian Fever host, named ‘Sister Ruby Ramadan’ said: ‘Torture them; punish them; beat them and give them mental torture.’
 Radio Asian Fever, based in Leeds, England, was fined £4000 ($6300, €4600) for allowing it to air. Another broadcast by Noor TV was criticised by Ofcom for ‘serious breaches’, and highlighted how inflammatory talk can incite violence. The show said: ‘There is absolutely no doubt about it that the punishment for the person who shows disrespect for the Prophet is death. No one disagrees about this.’ While the channels have small audiences compared with the mainstream, Ofcom said it does not matter when it comes to the breaching of broadcasting guidelines. ‘The majority of Islamic channels comply with our rules,’ an Ofcom spokesman said. ‘However, where we identify issues through our monitoring or complaints we investigate fully and take firm enforcement action.’ Speaking to GSN, a British Muslims for Secular Democracy spokesman said they gave their ‘unequivocal support’ to Ofcom’s investigation. They said: ‘While freedom of speech is an important right in a democratic society, action must be taken against those who incite violence or hatred against any other group. ‘As broadcasters whose opinions are conveyed to Muslims across the world, these people are in a powerful position. ‘Therefore, they must bear total responsibility for every single word that leaves their lips (or their keyboards).’ Omar Kuddus, a Muslim LGBT rights advocate, said the Islamic channels has ‘no true representation of Islam or its tolerance for homosexuality as per the Quran.’ ‘The views are unfounded and go against the principles of Islam and cannot be condoned by any true Muslim,’ he told GSN. ‘Our religion is about peace and love, it is their duty not to persecute, not to judge. Have they forgotten that?’

US Radio Host: Gay men only want to be scout masters to ‘be around young boys’

THIS IS THE FACE OF THE WOMAN WHO IMPLIED GAY MEN WANT TO BE SCOUT LEADERS BECAUSE BEING GAY = BEING A PAEDOPHILE!

SANDY RIOS..YOU GET MY 'BIRD' BRAIN AWARD FOR TOTAL IGNORANCE, BEING UNINFORMED AND UNEDUCATED! HOORAH TO THE HILL-BILLY POPULATION OF THE USA!

A US Christian radio host has suggested that gay men would only want to be Scout Leaders in order to “be around boys”, and suggested a link between paedophilia and homosexuality, saying “gay men love youth”.

Yesterday, the Boy Scouts of American delayed a vote on whether or not to lift a ban on gay scouts, volunteers and staff, until May “due to the complexity of the issue”.

Two days earlier, responding to a letter from a listener named David who opposed the BSA’s ban, Sandy Rios, of the American Family Association, suggested that allowing gay men to be Scout Masters would put scouts at risk.

Ms Rios referred to Jerry Sandusky, a convicted paedophile who was married to a woman, and so wouldn't have been affected by the ban on gay members.

She said: “If you know anything about this you know that gay men love youth. They may not all like prepubescent boys but they like youth, most of them like young men, that’s why they go into professions and work with boys, that’s why they become teacher and coaches and shall we say Jerry Sandusky priests?

“They go places where they can be around boys, that seems to be a favourite thing and if you think that’s not true you know it is true. Not all gay men are paedophiles but all male paedophiles who like boys are gay.

“It seems to be a problem in the gay community, not a problem shared by all of them but everyone that has a problem with this seems to be gay, so you figure that out.”

She went on to suggest that allowing gay Scout Masters would put boy scouts at risk of abuse.

She said: “I would have to say that zero percent of straight men are interested in boys, zero percent. So if anyone is going to straighten this out it just might be a straight man, not a gay man, that defies logic just a bit. By the way David, these are our children, these are our children and their safety and well-being trumps any desire of any gay man to be a Scout leader or a gay boy to be a Scout.

“If you want to be that and you can’t I’m sorry but we can’t all be what we want to be, we can’t put others at risk just because we want something.

“At least we used to understand that, now it’s like whatever you want to do you can do it and the rest of us be…you know what it shouldn’t be that way David, these are our kids and we’re trying to protect them.”

Earlier this week, the head of a Christian legal firm in the US said that the reason that the Boy Scouts of America may make moves towards dropping its ban on gay scouts was “spiritual pressure” from Satan.

Last week one US radio host said the scouts should “shut down” rather than allow gays in, and that these are signs of the “end times”, and another said that allowing gay scout masters would allow “gay activists” to “spread deviant sexuality”.

COURTESY OF: www.pinknews.co.uk

11 Trans Artists of Color You Should Know in 2013

Art has always been an important site of resistance and identity making for trans people of color. We've used the medium to share our stories, document our lives and express our humanity. Fortunately for us, we are living in a media moment that thirsts to understand the trans experience, and trans people of color are quenching it with their diverse artistic visions.

Here is a video collection of powerful trans artists of color who are bringing important visibility to the community through music, filmmaking, comedy and new media.

SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kortney-ryan-ziegler-phd/11-trans-artists-of-color-you-should-know-in-2013_b_2422169.html#slide=1833139

The Legal Consequences of BDSM Acts

Here is a research paper by Gary McLachlan LLB, LLM,  Ph.D Student, Exeter University.

To read the full paper, click on the link:  The Legal Consequences of BDSM Acts