May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia Text

Happy May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia!

World Health Organization has removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990. 17of May has been celebrated as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersexphobia around the world since 2004 and in Turkey since 2006.

We are entering the 32nd year of the exclusion of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses thanks to the organized fight of the LGBTQ+, but we are entering it in an atmosphere where right-wing populist governments are trying to institutionalize the hate towards LGBTQ+. Besides that, the pathologizing of the trans and intersex identities is not over. But our fight against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, intersexphobia and any kind of discrimination is growing with solidarity without leaving anyone behind.

We remind those who criminalize our existence with hate speeches and targeting,

Those who erase our flags and all of our traces from the streets,

Those who make our identities the subject of the judiciary with various accusations,

Those who think we are going to give up on İstanbul Convention,

Get used to us! We are here, we are not going anywhere!

We will continue fighting against the government’s increasing hate speech since the beginning of the pandemic, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, intersexphobia and any other type of discrimination.

We don’t accept being the reason of the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention. We are not giving up on İstanbul Convention.

From Stonewall to Ülker Street, Eryaman to Meis Building Complex, Mis to Bayram Street, ODTÜ to Boğaziçi; we have existed, we exist and will continue to exist everywhere.

You will get used to us! We are here, we are not going anywhere!

And we know that our lives, bodies, identities, loves, fights knows no boundaries. We are so much more than the boundaries.

Happy 17th May to the LGBTQ+ and to everyone who fights against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, intersexphobia!

Against hate, hurray life!

– 17 Mayıs Association
– Aydın LGBTİ+ Solidarity
– Boysan’s House
– Genç LGBTİ+ Youth Studies and Solidarity Association
– Hevi LGBTİ+ Association for Rights, Equality and Existence
– İstanbul LGBTİ+ Pride Week
– Kaos GL Cultural Studies and Solidarity Association
– Lambdaistanbul LGBTİ+ Solidarity Association
– Muamma LGBTİ+ Education, Research and Solidarity Association
– Pembe Hayat LGBTİ+ Solidarity Association
– Social Policies, Sexual Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association
– University Queer Studies and LGBTİ+ Solidarity Association