13/06/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL
Speaking at the event organized by METU Gender Studies Club, Yıldız Tar emphasized that everyone must fight to prevent the bill that criminalizes LGBTI+ people from being brought to the Parliament's agenda.
METU Gender Studies Club discussed the Family Year and the draft of the anti-LGBTI+ bill. Yıldız Tar, editor-in-chief of KaosGL.org, joined the event held by the club on June 12 online.
Tar drew attention to the political violence against LGBTI+ people, stating: “The implementation of sexual policies under the name of population policies has turned into a tool for the government to accumulate more power at the center. Naturally, neither the Family Year is solely about population and family, nor is the policy of hostility toward LGBTI+ people merely an attempt to scapegoat them.”
Emphasizing that everyone must fight against the draft bill being brought to the Parliament’s agenda and becoming law, Tar said: “Everyone who fights for social and political equality, freedom, and justice has an important responsibility, both individually and within the communities they are part of. To stand on the right side of history and humanity means not just taking a stance, but taking action.”
CLICK - Perception Survey Report on LGBTI+’s is out now!
Tar also touched upon the findings of the “Perception Survey on LGBTI+’s” conducted by Kaos GL and 17 Mayıs associations, saying:
“38.8% of society supporting LGBTI+ people to live equally and freely is a tremendous foundation. If we can support how that equality and freedom is built with practical steps and become role models, we will have more reasons to nurture our hope for the future and not lose heart. In issues framed as polarization and hostility, the first reflex is often to address or try to reason with the groups and individuals promoting that hostility. However, the history of social struggles shows that this approach never works and, on the contrary, causes harm. In every issue, there is a supporter group, an opposing group, and a group of undecided individuals in the middle. Groups opposed to rights and freedoms essentially propagate a rigid and closed mindset. When those who support rights and equality expend energy trying to transform this mindset, they will, of course, face disappointment. This mindset can change or remain marginal when the undecided group in the middle shifts in a more positive direction. In the struggle for LGBTI+ rights, the real fight is over who is marginalized. The authorities are aware of this reality as they label LGBTI+ people as a marginalized group and their supporters as marginalized allies. However, this public opinion survey shows that the truth is far from that.”
About the research
The report of the “Perception Survey on LGBTI+’s” conducted by Kaos GL and the 17 Mayıs associations was published in recent months.
The research is notable as a first, since no public opinion survey had previously been conducted to measure attitudes and perceptions toward LGBTI+ people specifically in the Turkish context. Conducted with the participation of 1,500 people, the results of the study provide a broad overview of perceptions related to LGBTI+ people in Turkey.
According to the results of the research, 38.8% of the participants stated that they support LGBTI+ people living equally and freely. Similarly, 39.1% of the participants supported trans people receiving healthcare services for their gender affirmation processes.
Tags: human rights, life, education, family
