ISTANBUL – A determined group of LGBTQ+ activists gathered in Istanbul's Fenerbahçe district this past weekend to hold the 12th annual Trans Pride March, proceeding in defiance of a city-wide ban imposed by authorities. The peaceful demonstration was short-lived, as police swiftly moved in, encircling the participants and detaining at least ten people.
Among those arrested were two well-known journalists, Yusuf Çelik and Doğa Tekneci, raising further concerns about press freedom in Turkey. The organizers had intentionally chosen an unannounced location away from the city center to avoid the heavy police presence, a tactic used in previous years to circumvent the long-standing bans on Pride events.
A March for Visibility and Survival
The demonstration was not only an act of protest but also a memorial. Participants carried signs and chanted to remember transgender individuals who have been murdered in Turkey. A statement read by activists underscored the life-or-death nature of their struggle: "We will build a world in which trans people grow old and die of natural causes."
In a longer declaration, the organizers addressed the government's increasingly hostile policies directly:
"We trans people live every day, every moment – despite hatred and violence against our bodies, thoughts, and dreams... We live despite the pressure from family, society, and the state... We will not be silenced! We do not apologize for our existence!"
The statement concluded with demands for a society free from discrimination and for fundamental rights, including access to healthcare, education, and social inclusion.
City on Lockdown
Prior to the march, Turkish authorities had deployed thousands of police officers across Istanbul. The traditional heart of the city's protests, Taksim Square, and its surrounding neighborhoods were completely sealed off. Metro and funicular stations were closed, and police barricaded side streets, effectively securing an empty square while the actual demonstration took place miles away.
The consistent banning of Pride marches in Istanbul since 2015 reflects a broader trend of eroding LGBTQ+ rights and civil liberties in the country. Despite the risks, local activists continue to organize each year, insisting on their right to be visible.
