Meeting to bring together all against homophobia and transphobia

May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, a day of celebration of sexual identities and sexual orientations, a day to raise awareness on the violation of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals) rights in as many as 120 countries and, as Y?ld?z Tar from the Turkish LGBTI rights organization Kaos GL puts it, "a day to stand against and take action on all physical, moral and symbolic acts of violence against gender identities and sexual orientations."

It's also a day in marking the week-long gathering in Ankara that is the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting. Coordinated by Kaos GL, and in its tenth year now, the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting is a set of activities spread over a week to raise awareness in combating homophobia and transphobia. The meeting culminates on May 17 with the now-traditional March Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Y?ld?z Tar, a LGBTI activist and the editor of KaosGL.org, said, "Organized since 2006, the objective of the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting is to create a platform for discussions on discrimination against LGBTIs in Turkey, a chance to increase their visibility, and to liberate LGBTIs and heterosexuals together. Everyone who is willing to discuss the problems of LGBTIs, homophobia and transphobia are welcome at the meeting."

"Various networks have flourished through the fight against discrimination and thanks to these networks the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting has reached beyond Ankara to many cities in Turkey," said Tar. "Many people who are against homophobia and transphobia are coming together both through the events in the International Anti-Homophobia Meeting, as well as many other events organized in other cities." Tar...