05/07/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Ege University 2nd Pride Picnic was held within the scope of Vegan Çiftlik International Short Film Festival on June 30th.
Photograph: Merve Küçük
Ege University 2nd Pride Picnic, which was targeted and prevented, was held within the scope of Vegan Çiftlik (Farm) International Short Film Festival on June 30th.
The picnic, which was planned to be held on June 2nd however cancelled due to being targeted and threatened by the alliance of New Welfare Party, Youth Union of Turkey (TGB) and Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) and prevented by the Rectorate, was held within the scope of 1st Vegan Çiftlik International Short Film Festival which was carried out with the theme “Freedom for Animals” this year.
Participating in the festival, in which many films were screened by directors from Turkey and around the world drawing attention to animal liberation, Ege University students held a Pride March in the farm and then they had a picnic.
2nd Pride Picnic was welcomed warmly by film lovers and directors from various countries attending the Festival.
What had happened?
New Welfare Party Youth Branches Chairperson Melih Güner had activated the social media lynch process by saying “We call the authorities to cancel the event, which is planned to be held by LGBT formations under the name of Pride Picnic at Ege University on June 2nd. Don’t say what is wrong with that. All subversion projects begin by making us to think this way.”
Samet Kunt, Secretary General of TGB, youth organization of the Patriotic Party, joined in with the rest by saying “The EU and the USA are funding LGBT association with the aim of spreading their ideologies which are rotten to the core, to countries like Turkey that resist against them” referring to the Pride Picnic planned to be held at Ege University.
Police attacked LGBTI+ activists and students, who wanted to make a press statement regarding the picnic, which was prevented by the Rectorate after threats. LGBT+ activists and lawyers from the Bar Association were beaten by the police.
Tags: life
