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In response, many LGBTI+s drew rainbows of their own: "There is no place for hatred in the rainbow!"

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SPoD

@spodlgbti

Mar 31, 2020

Gökkuşağında nefretin rengi yok! Çocukların evlerinin camına astıkları gökkuşaklı resimler hepimizin içini ısıttı! Biz de bu yüzden kendi boyalarımızla gökkuşağını da o güzel resimleri de sahiplenerek bir kez daha #EvdeKal diyoruz. Sen de gökkuşağını bizi etiketleyerek paylaş!

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8:14 AM · Apr 27, 2020

On April 23, Turkey's Children's Day, the hashtag "LGBTI children exist" went viral, with many users tweeting photos of themselves as a child. Despite online abuse and harassment, it was an unprecedented level of visibility of LGBTI+ children in Turkey.

The very next day, during Friday prayers, President of Religious Affairs Ali Erbas targeted LGBTI+s, people living with HIV, and unmarried partners, claiming they "bring disease and corrupt the generation" (Not his first time spreading hatred against LGBTI+s, I must add)

LGBTI+ and HIV organizations immediately responded, condemning hate speech and pointing to the fact that Erbas is a state employee who is bound with human rights obligations of Turkey arising from international law.

Not just them- Izmir, Ankara, Diyarbakir Bar Associations' LGBTI+ Commissions, as well as the newly established Istanbul Bar Association LGBTI+ Rights Group issued statements condemning Erbas' discriminatory remarks.

This then fueled into backlash in support of Erbas, with hashtags being opened in his name, spreading hatred against LGBTI+s while dragging the bar associations with them. Even the Minister of Justice is involved:

In response to the Ankara Bar Association's statement that Erbas' "voice belongs to ages ago", the Minister tweeted this morning that "that voice is the voice of Islam".

This isn't the first time that LGBTI+s are the target during a crisis- this is all too familiar. What's different this time I think is the rapid and strong involvement of bar associations- which says a lot about the Istanbul Bar Association in particular.

The LGBTI+ movement in Turkey has been struggling w discrimination spread by these institutions for years. It's refreshing and motivating to see reactions by others as well. I truly hope that a principled stand can continue among bar associations when it comes to LGBTI+ rights.

I forgot the funniest part! The phobes tweet stuff like "is this the Ankara Bar or the Amsterdam Bar?" and they even started a hashtag saying "go to The Netherlands". I found it hilarious that their vision of LGBTI+ is limited to this. Also we won't be going anywhere, kudurun🌈

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Also there are so many errors in this thread omg I think I forgot English during quarantine. The other day I asked someone on Zoom if their "computers' NOISE was off" #englishasasecondlanguage

Unfortunately an expected development, although I have no doubt that the Ankara Bar Association will not bow down and will continue defending human rights of LGBTI+s. twitter.com/hasavrat/statu

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And another investigation, against the Diyarbakir Bar Association this time. tigrishaber.com/service/amp/di

A powerful statement by the Van Bar Association in support of LGBTI+ rights, announcing their solidarity with the Ankara Bar Association.

I want to reiterate that this level of involvement by bar associations in LGBTI+ rights issues is new, and we owe great thanks to LGBTI+ and ally lawyers in Ankara, Izmir and Diyarbakir for pioneering LGBTI+ commissions within bars.

This makes the silence of the Union of Turkish Bar Association and its president Metin Feyzioglu even more noteworthy-known for his tendency to comment on a broad range of topics, from S-400 missiles to the Syrian Constitution, Feyzioglu is yet to release a statement on this.

The Religious Affairs High Council has now issued a declaration stating that "adultery and gay relations in all their types (??) are clearly and unquestionably sins in Islam". I'm sick and tired of updating this thread. diyanet.gov.tr/tr-TR/Kurumsal

Statement from Feyzioglu, calling Ankara Bar Association's statement "irresponsible" and blaming *the Bar* (not Erbas) for changing the topic from COVID-19! Exactly what we predicted he would. Surprised he's so late to join in.

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Metin Feyzioğlu

@metinfeyzioglu