16/01/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Murat Köylü of Kaos GL spoke about the situation of LGBTI+ employees in the public and private sectors.
Kaos GL’s Murat Köylü spoke to Meltem Suat for Daktilo1984’s podcast titled “Mutfakta ne var? (What’s in the Kitchen?)” Speaking about the Situation of LGBTI+s Working in the Public and Private Sector in Turkey 2023 reports, Köylü explained the difficulties LGBTI+ people face in working life.
Emphasizing that LGBTI+ people working in the public sector hide their identity, Köylü said, “LGBTI+s people in the public sector actually work in institutions where the state is the boss. The state has to create conditions that are directly in line with international human rights conventions, labor laws and its own constitution. But under this oppressive political environment, LGBTI+s working in public institutions feel even more pressured. LGBTI+ working in public institutions are subjected to hate speech, whether it targets their identity or not. LGBTI+s targeted and demonized by the current ruling party say ‘I work as if I will be fired at any moment’.”
Köylü explained that the situation is not same for LGBTI+s working in the private sector: “Working under pressure leads LGBTI+s to lose productivity. Since private companies do not prefer something like this, they include LGBTI+-inclusive provisions in their policies.”
“Some companies adopt the anti-LGBTI+ campaign led by the government”
Köylü explained that LGBTI+s enter the working life after having gone through a bullying education, saying:
“They are down on their luck from the very beginning. For LGBTI+ people, both working in the public sector is and working in the private sector are problems. In the recruitment process, people are investigated in order to understand if they are in or out of the norm. Some companies have also adopt the anti-LGBTI+ campaign led by the government.”
“LGBTI+ people live in the midst of poverty and fear for the future”
Köylü also assessed how LGBTI+ people are affected by the economic crisis, saying, “LGBTI+ people are the most disposable group. If you want to fire someone, fire the gay employee. If you’re going to cut someone’s salary, prefer the transgender worker. LGBTI+s live in a future anxiety and ever-increasing poverty.”
Köylü emphasized that in order to solve the problems faced by LGBTI+s in the working life, it is necessary to express inclusiveness to both government officials and companies, collect data on the situation of employees and come up with solutions that should be implemented at the political level.”
Tags: human rights
