29/01/2024 | Writer: Oğulcan Özgenç
The news file regarding the upcoming local elections is designed to help you understand what LGBTI people want from local authorities, the issues they face at the local level and the steps they are taking to ensure equal access to services.
We are on the cusp of a period in which the 2024 local elections will be a key determinant of the country’s political agenda. While the government’s anti-LGBTI+ rhetoric continues to fuel opposition in both the political and social arenas, the New Welfare (Yeniden Refah) Party’s anti-LGBTI+ local election campaign clearly shows that the upcoming elections, just like the general elections, will be a competition on targeting LGBTI+ people.
There is no sign yet that the opposition, which is casting up its accounts to win the elections, especially in the big cities, will develop a local electoral strategy that will counter this opposition and include LGBTI+ people. However, the memory of the movement gives us a broad view of the discrimination of LGBTI+ people in access to public services and their demands from local governments.
So, let’s take a look…
58 per cent of LGBTI+ people are attacked in public spaces
“I hear that everyone is always open to danger, that is why I hide myself.”
This statement is taken from the report titled “Çankaya Kent Masalları (Çankaya City Tales)” prepared by the May 17 Association. This statement, which is important because of revealing that LGBTI+ people are always at risk at the local level, becomes more meaningful when we look at the findings in the report.
According to the findings of the report, 58 per cent of LGBTI+ people are subjected to attacks on the street, in parks and other public spaces due to their gender identity and sexual orientation. Faced with these attacks, local support mechanisms have been ineffectual, even though LGBTI+ movements have been calling for them for many years. According to the report, 96 per cent of LGBTI+ people are not supported by local institutions following the attacks they have suffered.
“Even if there is a non-discriminatory health center in the municipality, no one knows about it”
Another dimension of LGBTI+ experiences at the local level is access to health services. A participant who spoke for the report titled “Çankaya Kent Masalları” report expressed the difficulty of access to testing centers affiliated to municipalities and of receiving equal services in the following way:
“The staff at the anonymous HIV testing center were very friendly and it was a positive experience. However, afterwards I could not find any information from any official source, such as whether the testing centre was open, where it was located, when I could make an appointment, etc. So I couldn’t go to the center again.”
The same participant expresses the steps that local governments can take with regard to LGBTI+ access to the right to health in the following way:
“The municipality should raise staff awareness about HIV, HPV, other sexual health issues, open non-discriminatory centers; they should definitely promote municipal services. Even if they are there, no one has any knowledge of them.”
Shelter, binary-gendered voice announcement in public transport, employment…
Issues where LGBTI+ people experience discrimination and make demands at the local level include housing, transport and employment, which fall within the field of social services.
LGBTI+ people face serious problems due to the lack of inclusivity of municipal shelters. The following statement is taken from the report titled “The Reproachful Citizens of Çankaya” prepared by Terra Development Cooperative:
“the issue of shelter... it is a serious problem for a trans and an open lesbian, we received an application... For the first time, we sat around the table together with ŞÖNİM (Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers) staff... It was about a disabled trans woman but her ID card is blue... They insisted to send her to a place accommodating only men.”
Binary-gendered voice announcements available in public transport, which are particularly inconvenient for LGBTI+ people, is another problem. Urban citizen trans man talking for the report titled “The Reproachful Citizens of Çankaya”, offers a more comprehensive suggestion:
“There can be a single warning tone. It doesn’t necessarily be a human voice reading something. It can be a kind of sound. Otherwise, it is really disturbing for me.”
When it comes to the inclusiveness of local governments, employment is another issue that needs to be emphasized. A trans woman tells a story from the same report titled “The Reproachful Citizens of Çankaya”:
“We are the ones who are discriminated the most. We stand out like a sore thumb. LGBTI+ do not stand out that much. The society accepts gays. They can offer employment opportunities to gay people in any field. They can be a sales person, a store manager, a waitress in a cafe, etc. Gays and lesbians can even work in the public sector. But a trans or a transgender cannot find a job anywhere. Trans people are always completely marginalized and excluded from the society.”
What is included in the policy brief regarding combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity within local administration?
There is no doubt that it is possible to expand on these examples. Against all the odds, it is also possible that local governments create rainbow cities where LGBTI+ people have easier access to services. The policy brief for LGBTI+ inclusive local governments prepared by Kaos GL is a guide for local governments. Some of the headings in this text, which provides a path for LGBTI+ to have a voice at the local level, be included in working life, have equal access to social support mechanisms, and the provisions that municipalities should implement in their legislation and policies for LGBTI+ friendly local government are as follows:
Right to speak: The Municipality shall promote the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBT) citizens and LGBT organizations to relevant meetings of the Municipal Council, Working Commissions of the Municipal Council and the City Council.
Work life: The Municipality develops policies and brings measures to ensure LGBT workers’ equality during recruitment and promotion. The Municipality announces this policy explicitly, especially in job advertisements regarding municipal government units. The Municipality seeks to ensure a lawful quota regarding LGBT personnel. The Municipality seeks to collaborate with trade unions and employers regarding rights of LGBT workers. Any vocational courses or trainings given by the Municipality shall promote the participation of LGBT citizens.
Social support: The Municipal policies and mechanisms on social support, protection from violence, health care and social services shall be convenient and suitable for LGBT citizens and non-citizens from all age groups. The Municipality announces this policy explicitly.
Culture and freedom of expression: Culture-art centers and social centers that are operated by the Municipality shall address issues of sexual orientation or gender identity within their performance; or these centers provide space for relevant activities of third parties.
Legislation and policies: The Municipality shall amend its internal legislation and policies on equality and ethics with regard to protection on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. (i.e. regulations on gender equality or equal treatment, etc.) The Municipality prevents victimization of LGBT persons (citizen or non-citizen) during urban transformation processes.
Internal Education: The Municipality shall provide educational programs on diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities, equality, social justice and prohibition of discrimination; for its relevant units and personnel.
#localelections24 news file begins!
The discrimination experienced by LGBTI+ people at the local level and the demands arising from these problems have not changed. Neither have the basic principles of LGBTI+ friendly local authorities. Signs of rising anti-LGBTI+ sentiment make it necessary to talk again about LGBTI+ demands on local governments and the inclusivity of local governments, especially now that the countdown to the local elections has begun. In this context, the #yerelseçim24 (localelections24) file, which you can follow on KaosGL.org throughout the local elections process, will provide a comprehensive framework of LGBTI+ people's demands on local governments, the problems they face at the local level, and the steps that need to be taken to ensure equal access to services.
Translation: Selma Koçak
Tags: human rights
