21/03/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
LGBTI+ activist Niler Albayrak, former CHP Avcılar district delegate, resigned from her party and registered TİP. Trans woman Albayrak, who also works as a driver in Avcılar Municipality, applied to be parliamentary candidate from TİP.
Following trans woman activist Esmeray’s candidacy for nomination upon the invitation of Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) LGBTI+ Rights Commission, trans woman activist Niler Albayrak also announced her candidacy for nomination from TİP.
Having resigned from her district delegation and membership of Republican People’s Party (CHP), Albayrak became a member of TİP. Albayrak completed her application for being parliamentary candidate.
Albayrak, who became candidate for parliamentary nomination from CHP in 2015 general elections however failed to be nominated by CHP, had told KaosGL.org the followings at that period:
“I know that we can achieve as long as we stand together. We have to take place in every organization, on every platform instead of hiding ourselves. We should draw ourselves up. LGBTI+s and transgender people should not be ashamed of themselves, we need to regain self-confidence. We should go everywhere proudly, without showing humility.”
Albayrak had begun working in Avcılar Municipality as a driver and had said: “I am very happy. I am a former sex worker but I was thinking about pulling out of it. I have been struggling under the umbrella of CHP for five years. I became a woman of firsts. I may be a parliamentary member next year, there is no retreat. I want to say transgender people ‘don’t give up struggle’. We should not forget that achievement is not possible without struggle.”
Tags: human rights, women
