08/05/2020 | Writer: Yiğit E Korkmaz
The 28th Istanbul LGBTI + Pride Week will be held online due to the measures taken against the Covid-19 pandemic.
İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week, which will be held for the 28th time this year, has made a statement regarding the pandemic. The statement titled “Pandemic Process and 28th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week” announced that this year Istanbul Pride Week will be held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The full statement is as follows:
“The way in which 28th İstanbul LGBTI + Pride Week will take place and even whether or not it will take place is a matter of curiosity for many people.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, which influenced the whole world and of course our country, we, as İstanbul LGBTI + Pride Week Committee, took the meetings we have held since December 10 to online platforms. Of course, our main agenda at the meetings was “What will happen to the Istanbul Pride Week this year?”. We also wanted to convey what we talked about at the meetings.
“We cannot predict the upcoming process like everyone else. It is not possible to predict when will the quarantine will end, and when we can feel safe after it's over. Of course, although our hope is the outbreak will be under control before the June 22-28, the time of the Pride Week, but this possibility does not seem realistic.
“This year, as the 28th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee, we decided to organize the Istanbul Pride Week online. We started our efforts to make our voice heard in the best way by evaluating the advantages and disadvantages brought together by the Internet.
“We devoted the upcoming process to designating the events and working on online and digital security. We will share the steps that we will take for an accessible, participatory, safe and cheerful Istanbul Pride Week.
“However, even though we have started to work on online methods, we are still wiggling with the possibility that we can still get face to face. This process will, of course, be a process that we will watch and learn together. If there would be times that we can go on the streets, do parties, fill the halls between June 22-28, we will be prepared to do as much as we can.
“On 22-28 June 2020, if the possibilities allow us we will be the street girls, if not then we will be the keyboard queers. We are continuing our efforts to be ready for any situation.
“Hope to see you somehow somewhere!”
*The full text is a translation of KaosGL.org from Pride Week Committee’s declaration.
Tags: human rights, media, life
