With a joint declaration, Turkish Psychological Association, Psychiatric Association of Turkey and the Sexual Education, Treatment and Research Association responded to the illegal and arbitrary ban of Ankara governorship on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) events. The declaration said, "there are LGBT identities in every society; these identities are not harmful or pathological. Increasing visibility of homosexuals, their demand for equal citizenship and expressions of these demands would not lead to degeneration but would contribute to a reduction in hate crimes, social healing, equality and social justice".
The highlights from the declaration are as follows:
As professionals working in the areas of mental health and medicine, we have been emphasizing over a half century that LGBT identities are not sicker, more degenerate, more immoral or more marginal than any other segment of the society. Separating people based on sexual orientation/sexual identity would reinforce social discrimination and hate; therefore, it would create serious public health problems by increasing social trauma.
The justifications Ankara governorship gives for the ban such as "preservation of general health and morals", "public security", "social sensitivities" and "securing others' rights and freedoms" are expressions of discrimination against a segment of the society, LGBT identities. Moreover, the ban itself violates these justifications. This ban paves the way for hate crimes by provoking negative sensitivities against LGBT people, restricts freedoms and affects public security.
Article 10 of the Turkish Constitution says that "everyone is equal before the law without distinction as to language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or any such grounds". Article 13 adds, "fundamental rights and freedoms may be restricted only by law and in conformity with the reasons mentioned in the relevant articles of the Constitution without infringing upon their essence. These restrictions shall not be contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution and the requirements of the democratic order of the society and the secular republic and the principle of proportionality." LGBT people are the ones who are supposed to be protected by central governments since they are exposed to discrimination and violations of human rights in our country and in the world. While central governments are responsible for protecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens, with these bans they violate primarily LGBT people’s freedom of speech and gathering but also, they violate Article 26 of our constitution regulating freedom of expression and dissemination of thought and international agreements and human rights law. In the end, an institutional discrimination is being built up by the central authorities. We must remember that people’s freedom of expression is protected by the constitution even under the state of emergency conditions.
Hate crimes have the highest level of impunity. Crime rates and impunity are unfortunately very high against LGBT people. LGBT people as the target of hate crimes should be protected. While developing programs to prevent hate crimes is the primary responsibility of central and local administrations, this kind of bans criminalize the LGBT identities, points them as a target for the hate crimes by fueling social hate and hostility and endanger public safety by legitimizing discriminatory and aggressive behaviour against LGBT people.
There are LGBT identities in every society; these identities are not harmful or pathological. Increasing visibility of LGBT people, their demand for equal citizenship and expressions of these demands would not lead to degeneration but would contribute to a reduction in hate crimes, social healing, equality and social justice.
As professionals working in the areas of mental health and medicine, we are expressing once again in front of the public that the bans against LGBT identities violating constitutional rights and international agreements should be lifted. These bans and their justifications create irreversible pain and mental damages in the society by strengthening discrimination and fueling hate crimes.
The Turkish capital Ankara has banned the public showing of films and exhibitions related to LGBT issues, the governor's office declared on November, citing public sensitivities. The Ankara governor's office said in a statement the events may cause animosity between different groups and endanger "health and morality" as well as the rights and freedoms of others.
