06/02/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
After the earthquake, LGBTI+'s were not allowed in the settlements established for those affected by the earthquake. Discrimination, insults and violence occurred in the settlements.
Two years have passed since the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes centered in Maraş. According to official data, 53,537 people lost their lives in the earthquakes that affected 11 provinces.
While the search for justice continues for those who lost their relatives in the earthquake, problems such as shelter, health and access to food, which everyone in the region has been experiencing since the first day, are still continuing.
LGBTI+ earthquake solidarities
Immediately after the earthquake, Ankara LGBTI+ Earthquake Solidarity and Lubunya Earthquake Solidarity were established. Both organizations worked for months in solidarity with LGBTI+ people who could not access aid after the earthquake. The organizations revealed that even after a natural disaster such as an earthquake, rights violations target LGBTI+ people.
The first report on what LGBTI+s experienced after the earthquakes came from the Association for Cultural Research for Peace (bakad).
According to bakad's report “Solidarity with LGBTI+'s After the Earthquake”, LGBTI+ organizations and activists had to establish solidarity networks as a result of the state's failure to fulfill its duty. While rights-based or humanitarian aid-oriented civil society organizations provided support, they also had to struggle against discriminatory practices of the state.
Violations of rights for LGBTI+ persons followed one after another
The research of Kaos GL and May 17 associations titled “This Issue is Always a Crisis” revealed the effects of the earthquake from the perspective of LGBTI+ persons.
According to the report; LGBTI+'s faced ill-treatment after the earthquakes. While various rights violations emerged, it became increasingly difficult to organize for solidarity and promote human rights. For LGBTI+ persons, one violation of rights led to others.
Some of the prominent results of the report are as follows:
*There were no specific legal or administrative measures for ensuring LGBTI+ individuals to access health services, adequate housing, employment, education and social security before the earthquake. No regulations were implemented during the earthquake period to ensure LGBTI+s had access to these rights.
*Prior to the earthquake, serious threats existed regarding the freedom of expression and right to organize for LGBTI+s that were further exacerbated during the disaster.
*The authorities took no steps to prevent ill-treatment. LGBTI+ survivors/ LGBTI+s
affected by the earthquake were unable to utilize the existing justice mechanisms due to their lack of trust in the justice system.
*Following the earthquake, media and social services failed to provide necessary support
information for LGBTI+s. Discriminatory practices were faced by those seeking assistance. Discrimination was either directly experienced from support providers or caused by their beneficiaries.
* The majority of LGBTI+ rights holders were unable to access psychosocial support services from public or civil society actors. A small number of LGBTI+ rights holders affected by the earthquake were able to access psycho-social support services through LGBTI+ associations. Despite facing limited resources, these associations invested significant effort in fulfilling the high demand for their services. LGBTI+s affected by the earthquake avoided contact with the public in order not to face discrimination and violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
* After the earthquake, LGBTI+ survivors reported that they were barred from entering the tent cities and temporary shelter facilities set up for displaced individuals. Discrimination, verbal abuse, and physical violence were rampant in these areas. Conspiracies floated around that blamed the earthquake on the LGBTI+ community, which were fueled by hateful rhetoric that used different religious and cultural references. LGBTI+ survivors avoided being in public living spaces, considering the danger of discrimination and violence. So much so that they could not even go to the fire lit for warmth in public living spaces. In some occasions, they were forced to stay alone in damaged houses, fearing discrimination and violence in shared areas. They could not Access protective and preventive measures and were forced to live in precarious environments.
*In the 6 February earthquakes, LGBTI+ people faced multiple discrimination on grounds such as age, living with HIV and being a refugee..
You can read the report in English here.
“I feel condemned to loneliness”
The statements of LGBTI+ persons affected by the earthquake, who spoke to KaosGL.org on the first year of the earthquake, also revealed discrimination:
“Right after the earthquake, our trans friend in Maraş was not allowed into the tents on the grounds of her identity and had to wear a headscarf even to get food. After a year, queer people staying in the city still cannot access their health, education, nutrition, housing and legal rights. In addition, many visible queer people I know have now migrated out of the city. Tents and containers are not suitable for living. Due to the negligent attitude of the state, there are still serious diseases for women in the region. Queers are not only not free from these problems but are also forced to migrate.”
Tags: human rights
