Shopping Mall Executive Director: Trans Women Are Welcome, Too

Executive director of “Kizilay AVM” shopping mall in Ankara, Nurhan Ekinci, denied the incident of gender identity discrimination in the mall.

kaosGL.org talked to Executive Director of Kizilay AVM, Nurhan Ekinci, after trans women declared that they were discriminated against in the mall because of their gender identity. Stating that President Gul did not issue a directive not to allow trans people in, Ekinci said that the incident is about specific persons, not a certain group.

Executive director said, “We definitely do not discriminate against people by their sexual preferences. We only made a decision not to allow people who might cause disturbance or create an uproar,” claiming that the trans women who were not allowed had repeatedly irritated other customers with their talks and behavior.

“It is not that you cannot kiss or hug at Kizilay AVM. We do not overwhelm people. But as a lady, I know the right balance,” said Ekinci, inviting trans women as well to Kizilay AVM. The trans women who were not allowed in can enter the place “after everything cools down,” she added.  

Translation: LGBTI News Turkey