17/05/2020 | Writer: Kaos GL
Kaos GL made a statement regarding IDAHOBIT2020: We have not asked anyone's permission to exist, and we will not... We were, we are and we will be here!
Today is May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia. On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. Since 2004, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia has been celebrated to attract the attention of the public, authorities, media, and politicians to the hate, discrimination and rights violations that LGBTI+'s are subjected to. As Kaos GL, we have been celebrating May 17th with various events since 2006.
This year we are entering May 17th with a pandemic. In this period, while calls for "stay home" and "life is at home" are being made, staying at home raises the risk of violence for LGBTI+'s who live with their family or had to return to their families due to financial problems. While the LGBTI+'s, who want to avoid discrimination and mobbing in their usual work-life, are showing maximum effort in order to not to make a mistake and lose their jobs, are one of the first workers that under the risk of losing their jobs due to pandemic.
Discrimination in access to healthcare is getting particularly severe during the pandemic for those who are living with HIV and refugee LGBTI+'s; the LGBTI+'s are being targeted by public institution representatives and political actors as no measures are taken for the problems of transgenders who are in the process of gender reassignment, sex worker LGBTI+'s without social security, the refugee LGBTI+'s who are easily overlooked and stripped of their rights even in the usual period.
Yes, it seems like a dark picture, we reiterate our call against discrimination and hatred that we made in our organized struggle since 1994. And we know that the rainbow that will come after the dark days where everyone will find a place for themselves will give hope to all of us again.
Solidarity against hate also grows in this picture. We know that our rights are more than what is imposed on us... Our lives, our identities, our love, our struggle do not recognize the limits that are imposed, we are much more than the limits.
We have not asked anyone's permission to exist, and we will not... We were, we are and we will be here! Happy May 17!
Kaos GL Association
Tags: human rights
