GLBT in Turkey

Merhaba!
Today was yet another interesting day! We spent the afternoon looking at Turkey's 1st capitol building and the Ankara castle, then head to Kilizay for a meeting w/ GLBT organization KAOS. KOAS's organizer, Nevin talked to us about the situation in Turkey and some of the biggest issues GLBT ppl in Turkey face. It was an eye opening experience.
I was very impressed with the organization and they def seem to be making some moves in Turkey. She told us about a large conference they put on this May in many different cities around the country, and gave us copies of their bi-monthly magazine.
Compared to the US, however, Turkey has a long way to come. There seems to be limited to no public stages for ppl that identify at GLBTQ and in fact there is discrimination that is enforced(or not stopped) by the law.
She told us about this may 5 transexual women were beaten almost to death this may, and also the story of Ahmet Yildiz, who was a victim of murder arranged by his own father in 2008 in Istanbul. In this sense, ppl that identify at GLBTQ can definitely become a public target and there is not much social support from people. She told us also how people have lost jobs b/c of their sexuality, and also how many people in Turkey's govt have made ignorant statements claiming being gay must be cured and enforced law that makes it easier on people that have committed crimes against ppl that identify as GLBTQ.

I think its easy for us in the US to be very closed minded and only think about what we and our local/national community is going through. To hear of the some of the struggles and violence people are threatened w/ in Turkey reminded me that we have to think about ourselves as an international community and build as much as we can in this context. Be partners and allies in the struggle for equality. Because it is equality isn't just a one sided thing, we all have 2 put in our part.

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For the honor of your family I pray
pray that from my lips to God
He will rain down your story to your nation's people
and hearts will break
enough for us to hurt
but not enough for your death to have been in vain

Honor

bright eyes and future
your parents raised you to be their star
yıldız
but when you turned out
different
couldn't deny the love inside you
you were outcasted
by your parents
and a nation of people not ready
to accept the difference of loving
someone the same sex

fatherhood became twisted
darkened
inconceivable
to save the family's honor
the star of their life
was to be murdered
blood lines
thick enough to love
but who knew that hate could be stronger

and now you,
Ahmet Yıldız
are remembered among moonlight
in a night sky of your peers
people who because of their love became
other victims of hate

your star rests in the sky

and when we're not sure what direction to go
the night lights our eyes in your memory

there is no translation for hate crime in Turkey
my heart feels heavy in my chest
as I hear your story
in Ankara
a million miles away-I think of my friends
who don't fear death by the hands of their family
but are hardly free themselves
Nevin, the GLBT organizer's eyes fill with tears up as she tells it
yours and others whose names we will never learn
other stars
who share cool moonlight among you

I will say a prayer for the honor of your family

our family

that your death may not be in vain
and that as brothers and sisters
we will share our streets
peacefully
as you share the sky

and we will
keep moving