LGBTI activist becomes municipal assembly member in Istanbul

 

Cakmak ran in the March 2014 local elections for the main opposition Republican People Party’s (CHP) Besiktas Municipal Assembly as an out lesbian and she was elected as an assembly member substitute.

 

 

Following the resignment of assembly member Ayca Akpek to run in the June 2015 general elections, Cakmak has risen to the post of assembly member. She made the following statement to kaosGL.org about her new post:

 

“I hope that the point where LGBTI movement has come to will lead to greater success, keeping in mind that fight for rights is a long-term process. It is important to be an assembly member without hiding your identity but I will continue working hard within the LGBTI movement until all LGBTIs in Turkey can live with dignity and as equal citizens.”

 

 

Cakmak, who wanted to be part of decision-making process within the municipality since she was a college student, played an important role in encouraging the Besiktas Municipality to focus on LGBTI rights.  

 

Before the local elections last year, Mayor of Besiktas Murat Hazinedar was among 40 mayoral candidates who signed off the “LGBTI-friendly Municipality Protocol” prepared by Social Policies, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association SPoD.

 

In November, the Besiktas Municipality stood up against transphobia on the Trans Day of Remembrance, putting up billboards with LGBTI activists holding banners that read “just to spite hate, long live life”. The Besiktas Municipality has also begun offering free healthcare to a trans shelter.