‘LGBTI solidarity smashes borders!’

31/05/2017 | Writer: Yıldız Tar

LGBTI refugees in Denizli came together during banner workshop of Kaos GL.

LGBTI refugees in Denizli came together during banner workshop of Kaos GL and said: “LGBTI solidarity smashes borders!”. Fariman and Mona, who talked to KaosGL.org after the workshop, said "It is very important that we can get together".

Kaos GL conducting works and projects based on refugee rights since 2007 in the scope of Human Rights Program brought Iranian LGBTI refugees in Denizli and LGBTI families in Denizli together in banner workshop.

Kaos GL staff visiting Denizli within the scope of the fieldwork under the Advancing Human Rights of LGBTI Refugees Project conducted by Kaos GL together with UNHCR organized a banner writing workshop as well as face-to-face meetings and interviews with refugees.

Approximately 20 people participated to the workshop organized in the social center of Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (ASAM) in Denizli at 26th May.

Red card to Homophobia and Transphobia!

During the workshop, slogans in Farsi language meaning such as “Red card to Homophobia and Transphobia”, “LGBTI solidarity smashes borders!” were written on the banners.

During the workshop, participants discussed the problems they faced in Denizli and how to strengthen the solidarity.

“LGBTI refugees can rarely gather together”

We talked to participants Fariman and Mona who are also together about the workshop, and they told that LGBTI refugees cannot gather together so often in Denizli.

“This banner workshop and the football match we will play further are the two of the limited activities which bring LGBTI refugees together in Denizli” said Fariman. Mona continued:

“Visibility, acknowledgement and solidarity are so important for us. Especially in the case of LGBTI refugees, the issue of recognition has a different meaning.”

Emphasizing the importance of the social activities organized by Kaos GL, Fariman underlined the importance of the workshops on sexual health, transition process, basic human rights and migration legislation which will be conducted in the fortcoming days.

After the workshop, the solidarity football match with LGBTI refugees refereed by Halil İbrahim Dinçdağ was played.

Translation: Damla Umut Uzun

Tags: human rights