22/11/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
METU LGBTIQAA+ Solidarity: We commemorate our trans friends whom the government has condemned to torture through the use of the police, denied them employment, marginalized them with hatred, slaughtered them personally, murdered them by dragging them to suicide.
Students are unfurling a trans flag at Devrim (Revolution) Stadium and carrying a banner saying “Not one less”.
METU LGBTIQAA+ Solidarity together with METU Media Community commemorated the transgender people, who were slaughtered and driven to suicide due to hatred targeting them, with their photographs as part of the Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20.
At the commemoration, where photos of trans people were placed on classroom desks, activists said “Not one less”:
“The 20th of November was the Transgender Day of Remembrance and we are here today to remember our trans friends and to pay back the transphobic AKP (Justice and Development Party) - MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) government for all the trans friends who were expelled and left in the streets, tortured by their transphobic police, prevented from working, marginalized with hate, murdered personally or murdered by being dragged to suicide.
We not only call AKP-MHP government to account, but also trustee rectors, who act in accordance with the political policies of the government. We also call Verşan Kök to account for exposing lubunyas (queers) to police attacks every year!
We remind them and bring them to book for Ecem Seçkin, Hande Kader, Hande Buse Şeker, Sevda Başar, Didem Akay, Okyanus Efe, Mira Güneş, Zirve Soylu, Doski Azad and many others who have been victims of hate crimes for years, who have been murdered, who have been subjected to phobic violence, hatred, marginalization and targeting in all fields.”
About November 20
Rita Hester was tragically slaughtered in transphobic attack in Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 20 November 1998.
Since 1999, every November 20th, transgender victims of hate crimes in many parts of the world have been commemorated by LGBT organizations and rights defenders with press statements, rallies and events where transgender people share the difficulties they are subjected to.
Tags: human rights, education
