Activists paint rainbow crosswalk at Russian embassy in Sweden

in: http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2013/08/activists-paint-rainbow-crosswalk-at-russian-embassy-in-sweden.html

Övergångsstället vid ryska ambassaden är nymålat. #gilla

LGBT activists in Sweden are letting the Russian government know exactly how they feel about Vladmir Putin's controversial new anti "gay propaganda" legislation in a way that is simple and peaceful but vibrantly proud.

Swedish newspaper The Local reports that protesters gathered outside of the Russian embassy in Stockholm this weekend to paint over a traditional black and white "zebra" crosswalk with a rainbow of colours.

Utanför ryska ambassaden.
 pic.twitter.com/x3PmchzywX

On Saturday, a group of naked men are reported to have marched back and forth across the rainbow crossing outside the embassy while supporters called on others to boycott the World Athletics Championships which began this weekend in Moscow.

 

“We have no case file on it but it will probably be classified as vandalism or a violation of traffic regulations,” said Ulf Lindgren of the Stockholm Police to Swedish language paper Dagens Nyheter.

 "There's a risk it can create danger for those using the crossing as they should look a certain way. It's confusing if they are different," added Lundgren.

He noted that it is not the police department's responsibility to restore the sidewalk to its regular pattern, but as of Tuesday morning it appears as though someone had arranged for this to be done.

  

Nu tvättas regnbågen bort från övergångsstället vid ryska ambassaden. pic.twitter.com/IN5CH85s3Y

 Nu tvättar de bort regnbågsövergångsstället utanför ryska ambassaden :( foto @UlrikaBy instagram.com/p/c8seB2mjtb/



The colourful crosswalk may have been short lived, but it served as a powerful symbol for Stockholm's LGBT community, which celebrated its annual Pride festival earlier this month.

 Spreading some #gay propaganda outside of the #Russian embassy in Stockholm. http://pic.twitter.com/lQPbv0f4WL



Russia's announcement of a new law cracking down on gay rights activism during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi has sparked international debate over participation in the forthcoming games.

In the wake of this intended crackdown, the Russian embassy in Stockholm has been the target of a series of pro-LGBT rights demonstrations.




Outside Russian embassy, #stockholm demonstration in support of #LGBT rights #sthlmpride2013 #russia http://pic.twitter.com/umkMArWFlO

Standing up against the Putins so called morals. Outside the russian Embassy in Stockholm! #russia #gay #LGBT http://pic.twitter.com/QsyeHVgS1G

Gay pride rally outside of Russian Embassy in Stockholm this morning http://pic.twitter.com/wELTFzCUaV via @claesnyberg #sthlmpride

Before it could be washed away, passersby took photos of the rainbow crosswalk to voice their support on Instagram and Twitter.

Rainbow crosswalk outside the #Russian Embassy in #Stockholm. #Equalrights for all

Snyggt övergångställe utanför #Ryska #Ambassaden

 "Neat crosswalk outside the Russian Embassy," reads the caption above, and below "Hey Russian Ambassador, what has anybody done to you?"




Hej ryska ambassaden vad fint någon gjort hos er ❤️




Civil olydnad får tumme upp. Övergångsstället utanför ryska ambassaden.

 "Thumbs up for Civil disobedience. Crosswalk outside Russian Embassy." reads the caption above. Below, "Outside the Russian embassy right now. Apparently they made this last night."


 
Utanför ryska ambassaden just nu. Applåderar de som gjorde detta inatt #hbtq #lgbt #pride #antigayolympics



 And while the rainbow crosswalk in Stockholm wasn't the first of its kind, it won't be the last either.

Australian LGBT protesters also took to sidewalks outside of the Russian embassy in Sydney this weekend with colourful chalk in a similar fashion.


A beautiful day for chalking! The @DIYrainbows crew outside the Russian Embassy in Woollahra today: http://pic.twitter.com/7Y9M3xh5cc


The #DIYRainbow movement spread beyond Sydney through much of Australia.


And a similar work was spotted in Utrecht, Holland, where this photo was taken, and later posted in response to a photo of the Swedish crosswalk on Street Art Utopia's Facebook page.
 
Cobuz Okhuijsen's Photos | Facebook



 Others are protesting Russia's law in more traditional ways at embassies in Chile...
 
Chile: Volunteers from LGBT-rights org. @IgualesChile decry Russian homophobia outside Russian embassy http://pic.twitter.com/1q7HZtn3Nj via @ahsoffia


Turkey...


Pride march attacked in Russia, sign in Istanbul at the Russian embassy: "Don't worry, homophobia can be cured." http://pic.twitter.com/EPu5u0eLqn



 Scotland...
 
Wee @LGBTScotland afternoon protest for LGBT equality at the Russian Embassy @alchemister @FireCrow69 http://pic.twitter.com/VM2F2Tmi7i

Israel...

"Berlin36 Moscow13" #TelAviv activists protest homophobia in front of Embassy of #Russia #LGBT 972mag.com/tel-aviv-activ… http://pic.twitter.com/QDUCm8OvaJ

And of course, in Canada, where permanent rainbow-coloured crosswalks were installed in downtown Vancouver's west end during the city's Pride Week celebrations earlier this summer.

Rainbow crosswalks show off Vancouver's pride

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2013/08/activists-paint-rainbow-crosswalk-at-russian-embassy-in-sweden.html

Turquia pode ser 2º país de maioria muçulmana a proteger LGBT

in: http://paroutudo.com/2013/08/15/turquia-pode-ser-2%C2%BA-pais-de-maioria-muculmana-a-proteger-lgbt/


A Turquia pode se juntar à Albânia e se tornar o segundo país de maioria muçulmana a ter uma legislação que protege cidadãos LGBT.

O Comitê de Consenso Constitucional do país, concordou, na segunda-feira, 13, em adicionar na seção de “justificativas” do projeto da nova constituição turca a discriminação por orientação sexual. Essa área da Constituição serve como um guia para juízes e procuradores.

Ativistas arco-íris, no entanto, não se entusiasmaram muito. O grupo LGBT Kaos GL teme que a cláusula não entre na versão final da Constituição do país e mesmo que entre não faça diferença no dia-a-dia dos homossexuais.

“Como temos tantos juízes homofóbicos e transfóbicas na Turquia, é difícil esperar que a sua interpretação de crimes de ódio vai mudar de repente por este acréscimo”, disse um porta-voz da entidade ao site “Gay Star News”.


http://paroutudo.com/2013/08/15/turquia-pode-ser-2%C2%BA-pais-de-maioria-muculmana-a-proteger-lgbt/

Turkish court rules gay sex is natural

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkish-court-rules-gay-sex-natural190213

An Istanbul court of the first instance delivered a landmark ruling saying that gay sex is natural, contradicting a previous ruling by Turkey's supreme court.

Yesterday’s (18 February) ruling regarded a trader who was caught selling 125 DVDs of gay and group sex porn.

The person, known only by his initials, DM, faced up to four years imprisonment according to article 262/2 of the Turkish penal code that prohibits owning, trafficking, distributing and publishing ‘unnatural sex’ videos.

Judge Mahmut Erdemli, however, ruled that sexual orientation can not be considered as ‘unnatural’ and should be respected.

The ruling contradicted a previous decision of Turkey’s supreme court that did include gay sex in the category of ‘unnatural sex’.

In support of his decision Erdemli cited examples of the legality of gay marriages in Europe and North America.

Erdemli differentiated gay sex from necrophilia and bistiality which he agreed were right to be classified as ‘unnatural’.

Erdemli was quoted by the daily Haber Turk as saying: ‘Today, it is possible to have gay marriages in modern countries.

'International regulations prohibit discrimination regarding peoples’ sexual preference, and it is therefore an obligation to respect their sexual orientation...

‘In this respect, most of the European countries see gay relationships as equivalent to marriage...

‘Contemporary societies allow [gay relationships] to achieve this legal status and therefore the contents of the DVDs can not be seen as unnatural’.

The court did not find DM guilty of selling 'unnatural' porn but of ‘unauthorized’ selling of porn with a punishment of 8 months imprisonment.

Turkey’s criminal division of the supreme court, however, criticized the ruling saying that gay and group sex are unnatural and that the court was wrong not to accept them as a crime.

Last year, in a ruling on a similar case of porn videos sales, Turkey’s supreme court of appeals in Ankara (the country's capital) ruled as ‘unnatural’ any acts of gay sex, oral, anal or group sex - including SM - as well as necrophilia and bestiality.

The supreme court provided for the imprisonment of any persons in possession of videos depicting such sex scenes on the basis of Article 262/2 of the Turkish criminal code.

The court set a minimum punishment of one year, and a maximum of four years imprisonment.

The supreme court’s ruling of 2012 rejected a six-month sentence imposed by a provincial court for the selling of pornographic videos with ‘unnatural’ content saying the ruling was too lenient.

A spokesperson for Turkish LGBT rights group KAOS GL told GayStarNews: ‘The decision given by the court yesterday is not binding.

‘However it is a positive development that may affect a future ruling by Turkey’s supreme court.

‘Even if the supreme court will not accept this ruling - this sets a very positive precedent for future cases’.

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/turkish-court-rules-gay-sex-natural190213

Trans Woman Murdered by Brother - A transgender woman was killed in Turkey by her disapproving family

http://www.advocate.com/

A transgender woman in the eastern province of Gaziantep, Turkey, was killed on Oct. 7.

The woman, Ramazan Çetin, was already being treated at Gaziantep Cengiz Gökçek State Hospital following injuries she sustained after having fallen "from a high place" on Oct. 4 when she was shot to death.

According to the Hurriyet Daily News, Cetin, who was 24, was taking special care to avoid her family. She had moved out of her family home two years ago after they disapproved of what they called her "sexual preference" but was likely her gender identity. The victim's brother, Fevzi Çetin, turned himself in to hospital police shooting his sibling with a pistol at about 6:45 p.m. Two bullets went through Cretin's body, while another bullet went through her head, according to reports. Chaos ensued at the hospital while some witnesses videotaped Cetin being hauled away on a stretcher.

“My brother was engaged in travestism. I killed him,” 27-year-old Fevzi Çetin bragged to hospital staff. “I cleansed my honor.”

Turquia deve agir face à discriminação da comunidade LGBT

http://aeiou.expresso.pt/turquia-deve-agir-face-a-discriminacao-da-comunidade-lgbt=f656910

As autoridades turcas devem pôr em vigor leis que protejam a comunidade lésbica, gay, bissexual e transgénero (LGBT) da discriminação generalizada, afirmou hoje a Amnistia Internacional num novo relatório publicado a 21 de Junho.

O relatório "Not an illness nor a crime: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transender people in Turkey demand equality" destaca a discriminação que estas pessoas enfrentam nos serviços de saúde, na educação, na habitação e no local de trabalho, num país onde não existem formas de a prevenir.

"O preconceito universal contra pessoas lésbicas, gays, bissexuais e transgéneros na Turquia e o receio de ostracismo e ataques, significa que muitos indivíduos se sentem obrigados a esconder a sua orientação sexual, até das suas famílias," afirmou Andrew Gardner, Investigador da Amnistia Internacional na Turquia.

"As declarações homofóbicas feitas por oficiais do governo incitam a discriminação contra os indivíduos. Em vez de repetir os erros do passado, o novo governo deve respeitar e proteger os direitos destas pessoas através de palavras e acções".

"Impossibilitadas de encontrar um trabalho, as mulheres transexuais são frequentemente forçadas a trabalho sexual ilegal e por isso são ainda assediadas por polícias. Estas pessoas representam o alvo mais comum de crimes de ódio, contudo, o assunto continua a ser fortemente ignorado pelas autoridades".

Devido à sua identidade de género, no seu quotidiano as mulheres transgénero enfrentam penalizações arbitrárias por parte de agentes da polícia, como por exemplo assédio e punições sistemáticas.

Um inquérito conduzido, em 2010, pela organização de solidariedade LGBT "Lambda Istambul", afirma que das 104 mulheres transexuais que participaram, mais de 89% relata ter sido vítima de violência física em detenções policiais.

Em 2010, só as associações LGBT documentaram 16 homicídios de pessoas que se crê terem sido mortas devido à sua orientação sexual ou identidade de género.

Muitos dos crimes de ódio não são reportados e quando são, estes actos não são muitas vezes registados como crimes. A motivação para o crime não é investigada de forma rotineira.

A comunidade LGBT também é discriminada quando é vítima de crimes violentos. Inúmeras leis, embora não sendo explicitamente discriminatórias, são aplicadas pela justiça de uma forma que leva à discriminação. Em muitos casos os responsáveis não são levados à justiça devido a falhas na investigação destes crimes.

Diante da inacção do governo, as associações de solidariedade LGBT são quem tenta combater estes abusos. Contudo, as próprias associações já enfrentaram processos civis conduzidos pelas autoridades, visando o seu encerramento e outros ataques discriminatórios em clara violação do direito à liberdade de expressão e de associação.

"É responsabilidade de todos os partidos no Parlamento assegurar que qualquer novo acordo constitucional na Turquia proíbe a discriminação no que diz respeito à orientação sexual ou identidade de género," afirmou Andrew Gardner.

"É essencial que haja legislação abrangente para combater a discriminação no que toca à orientação sexual e identidade de género e deve ser implementada o mais rápido possível. Contudo, as autoridades também devem demonstrar vontade política de combater a discriminação, demonstrando que o discurso homofóbico em público é inaceitável."

"Além disso, as associações de solidariedade LGBT precisam de protecção e respeito. É a altura certa para que as figuras políticas se cheguem à frente e falem abertamente, apoiando estas pessoas."

Casos

Eylül, de Eskiºehir, é uma transgénero de 24 anos que trabalha na indústria sexual e membro fundador de uma rede local de activistas LGBT. Descreveu que a 1 de Fevereiro de 2011, por volta das 09h30, recebeu uma chamada de um homem que afirmava ser um cliente, mas que reconheceu na chegada a sua casa como o indivíduo alegadamente envolvido em assaltos e roubos contra outras mulheres transgénero e gays. Ela pediu para que se retirasse, mas o indivíduo recusou-se a sair e depois de várias ameaças de violência, Eylül foi violada. Eylül apresentou queixa e foi reencaminhada para um departamento de medicina forense para uma avaliação física e psicológica. A 17 de Fevereiro de 2011, Eylül disse à Amnistia Internacional que outra mulher transgénero que trabalha na indústria sexual foi assaltada pelo mesmo indivíduo e levou seis pontos no estômago depois de ter sido atacada com uma faca.

Ahmet Yýldýz, um indivíduo gay de 26 anos que vive com o seu companheiro em Istambul, foi morto a tiro a 15 de Julho de 2008 em frente a sua casa, no que muitos acreditam ter sido um homicídio de "honra". Nos meses que antecederam ao homicídio, Ahmet recebeu ameaças de violência por parte da sua família. Apresentou queixa contra a família e pediu protecção. Depois do homicídio, soube-se que a queixa não foi investigada e que o procurador de Estado transferiu a queixa para outro departamento com base no facto de pertencer à jurisdição do distrito vizinho, onde não foi seguida. Os activistas vêem as acções das autoridades como relutantes em confrontar a violência homofóbica. O companheiro de Ahmet disse à Amnistia Internacional que a investigação criminal não foi realizada eficazmente - o assunto não foi seguido e o suspeito principal, o pai de Ahmet, não foi questionado.

Todos os homens entre os 18 e os 40 anos na Turquia são obrigados a realizar serviço militar. Como não existe alternativa e os homens gay correm risco de violência no exército, muitos recorrem à provisão discriminatória que lhes permite estarem isentos do serviço militar e que considera a sua orientação sexual como um "distúrbio sexual". Asil, um jovem gay de 21 anos de Izmir, disse à Amnistia Internacional que foi sujeito a abuso verbal e mantido em prisão solitária, sofreu ameaças de violência e exames médicas humilhantes e discriminatórias antes de obter isenção do serviço militar.
Conheça o novo relatório em http://tinyurl.com/43oqvpg.

http://aeiou.expresso.pt/turquia-deve-agir-face-a-discriminacao-da-comunidade-lgbt=f656910

International Day Against Homophobia events announced

http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/

The Intentional Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) has announced more events to take place on or around May17.

Fighting so-called 'reparative' therapies, aiming at "curing" sexual and gender diversity, is emerging as a theme.

A coalition of groups from Latin America and the Caribbean has launched a campaign called "Cures that kill". First signatories include the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology, Mariela Castro and the Mayor of Lima.

• Read the full appeal and sign the petition

In Peru a week long programme in Lima includes a national seminar on 'reparative' therapies.

In Italy, Catholics will hold a Vigil of Prayer for the victims of homophobia.

The Latin Americans are seeking support from the international community and the wider public.

The IDAHO Committee has an online "As I Am" campaign which aims to "celebrate our individualities and to honor the collective spirit that binds us all, connecting us to universal, inalienable and interconnected human rights that all people share". It has invited submissions of creative videos, artwork, or written statements "about respecting a person for ALL of who they are".

May 17, the 20 national editions of the free daily METRO, read by 17 million people, will be edited by Lady Gaga. There is a contest for Gaga assistants.

Turkish LGBT group KAOS GL will launch a regional network against homophobia, as part of the sixth international IDAHO conference in Ankara. They said:

"The Conference for Middle East and Balkan Countries’ Homosexuals was a dream when we declared our foundation 16 years ago and shaped our liberation perspective. Liberation and survival struggles of LGBT in our region has always been a constant consideration for Kaos GL, one of the first LGBT organisations in Turkey. The reflections of all ethnic, religious and cultural diversity seen in the Middle Eastern, Caucasus and Balkan countries exist in Turkey’s society. Kaos GL has strived for this diversity to represent and express itself in the LGBT movement since its foundation."

"Homophobia is institutionalised in civil society and the public area by blending racism and nationalism in the countries of this region, including Turkey. Institutionalised homophobia integrates into historical animosities between the countries of our region and increases existing alienation between peoples. It is the LGBT organisations and the regional network between these organisations that will have to resist homophobic and sexist reflections of racist and nationalist policies in our region."

In Rwanda, LGBT organisation HOCA will hold a large-scale media conference to increase awareness of the situation of sexual and gender minorities in the country.

The international photo project 'Walk with Pride' that documents gay pride parades around the globe will be shown simultaneously in more than 20 locations around the world, including at the European Parliament, and on the IDAHO Committee's website.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission will release 'Courage Unfolds', a film highlighting the issues faced by LGBT people in Asia and encouraging the use of the Yogyakarta Principles as a tool to promote LGBT human rights, May 17.

The Courage Unfolds Campaign calls for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to be protected by law, respected by society, and accepted by family.

• Watch the trailer

In Russia, the second "Rainbow Flashmob" will happen, with Hamburg joining in again this year with other cities expected to follow suit.

In Israel, the IDAHO team will announce the winner of the 'academic papers regarding homophobia' contest, which has the support of Shimon Peres. In the city of Nethanya, 120 school counselors will participate in a seminar adressing homo/transphobic bullying in schools.

In Australia, a 'heroes in our communities' event will launch a year-long campaign calling upon government bodies to sign and ratify the joint statement of the 2011 Asia Pacific Outgames Human Rights Conference.

In Chile, a march will close a one-day program about public campaigning and political advocacy.

http://madikazemi.blogspot.com/

Turkish LGBT group shut down by court

in: http://www.axelhotels.com/live/turkish-lgbt-group-shut-down-by-court/

Another Turkish LGBT organisation has been ordered to close.

A criminal court in Bursa, north-west Turkey, ruled that the Rainbow Association must shut down after claims by the local government that its members had engaged in prostitution.

However, the LGBT group denies the allegations and says that no illegal activity has taken place.

Rainbow Association president Öykü Evren Özen said his group would appeal the ruling.

He added that the group would continue operating during the appeal and would reform under a new name if unsuccessful.

According to the Gay Middle East website, the Bursa local government has been “harassing” the Rainbow Association since early 2007 and has previously denounced it as “immoral”.

The January 2nd ruling follows a lawsuit originally brought against the group in 2008.

Lawyer Esra Yener told English-language website bianet that even if Rainbow Association members were working as prostitutes outside the group, it would be contrary to the law to associate their activities with the organisation.

Gay Middle East pointed out that Turkey, as a member state of the Council of Europe and part of the United Nations, has signed both the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The website urged the Turkish government to quickly pass a bill to uphold the rights of LGBT people.

At least three other Turkish LGBT groups have fought legal challenges to stay open in the past six years.

In 2009, Lambda Istanbul was granted permission to continue operating after it was ordered to be dissolved the previous year.

Ankara-based group Kaos GL was ordered to close in 2005 by city deputy governor, Selahattin Ekmenoglu. The closure petition was dismissed by prosecutors.

Last year, The Black Pink Triangle Association of Izmir was taken to court after the city of Izmir accused it of immorality. It later won the right to stay open.

in: http://www.axelhotels.com/live/turkish-lgbt-group-shut-down-by-court/

Petição - Turquía: Activistas transgénero golpeados por la policía

El 17 de mayo de 2010, activistas de la organización turca Pink Life – a favor

de la igualdad de derechos para lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgénero -
viajaban en un coche cuando la policía les detuvo. Previendo problemas, los
activistas llamaron a compañeros de la organización que acudieron en su ayuda.

La respuesta de la policía fue violenta y no se hizo esperar: mientras golpeaba
con porras y disparaba pimienta en aerosol a los últimos en llegar, se llevaba
detenidos a los ocupantes del coche, que pasaron la noche bajo custodia
policial.

Y es que en Turquía, como en otros muchos lugares del mundo, las personas
homosexuales, bisexuales y transgénero son discriminadas y, a menudo, se ven
obligadas a esconderse por miedo a las represalias legales y al rechazo público.


Sin ir más lejos, cinco mujeres transgénero fueron asesinadas en 2009 y sólo en
un caso se condenó al responsable. Además, dos organizaciones casi fueron
ilegalizadas por “animar a otras personas a declarase lesbianas, gays,
bisexuales o transgénero” o por “quebrantar los valores morales y la estructura
familiar de Turquía.”

Imagínate ser homosexual y vivir en un lugar así. ¿Insoportable? En Amnistía
Internacional estamos convencidos de que todos y todas tenemos los mismos
derechos, independientemente de la orientación sexual o de género. Si piensas
como nosotros, firma nuestra petición al Ministro del Interior de Turquía - Besir
Atalay, para que investigue las alegaciones de malos tratos de los activistas de
Pink Life. Y si puedes, ayúdanos a conseguir que la agresión no caiga en el
olvido reenviando esta información a tus amigos y amigas.
Muchas gracias por tu apoyo.

Esteban Beltrán
Director Amnistía Internacional - Sección Española

___

BASTA de discriminação e violência para com a população LGBT!

Para ver a notícia e assinar a petição:

http://www.es.amnesty.org/actua/acciones/turquia-activistas-transgenero-golpeados-por-la-policia/