Turkish
The details of the draft law proposal targeting LGBTI+ people in Turkey were reflected in the media with an exclusive report by Kaos GL on February 27th. This proposed law amendment includes regulations that make gender affirmation processes more difficult in every step and cancel the positive legal changes made over the years. Another important detail targeting mainly LGBTI+ people but the whole society is that all forms of self-expression in the public sphere can be penalized as a result of this regulation, if they are not deemed in accordance with gender roles and norms.
Immediately after the details of the proposal became known, LGBTI+ people and women loudly voiced their objections and expressed their will to fight against the bill. LGBTI+ organizations called the whole society for a wider mobilization by saying that ”They target us all.”
The components of the ever-growing queerfeminist sports field in Turkey in the last decade also released a joint statement on March 10, saying “we exist in sports as in every area of life and we will continue our struggle.” You can access the text from the social media accounts of the teams as well as below.
We started last week with the news that Kaos GL announced: “the proposed amendment to the Civil Code and Penal Code.” This draft law criminalizes being LGBTI+, making it harder for trans+ individuals to access gender-affirming processes, and imposes patriarchal gender roles under the guise of “protecting public morality.” We stand against this regulation, which aims to judge and punish anyone who does not conform to the binary gender system and its stereotypes. We oppose this draft law that targets our existence!
We are LGBTI+’s and women who object to the cis-heterosexist, patriarchal, industrial and capitalist order of football and sports; we are LGBTI+’s and women who shout that they exist on the fields and in every aspect of life.
For years, we have struggled to transform the fields we have been excluded from and to break the rules imposed on us. Against those who say “Women and LGBTI+’s cannot play football”, against those who say “football field belongs to men“, we have torn down and rewoven the goal nets of the field. We will not take even one step back from here. We are not leaving our goals, goal posts, and shots to anyone!
We show a red card to the inequalities created in our lives by the binary gender system and gender roles. We set the rules of our own game. Our presence against oppression, violence and prohibitive laws will continue on the fields, on the parquets, in the stands. We are here, in the game, with our struggle and joy. We are not going anywhere.
We have built a wall against all the shots from patriarchy, cis-heterosexism, and all hegemons! No pasarán!
Signatories
- Futboldan Hiç Anlamam
- Futbolun “Q” Hali
- Küründen United
- Minçoster TK
- Muamma Futbol Takımı
- Sportif Lezbon
- QLUB
- Queer Olympix
