So it's been about (exactly) two months since I wrote in this thing, I thought I would write about the most mind blowing event I experienced in Turkey. The day was June 27th, my birthday. Barbara had the coolest day planned of seeing the Aya Sophia, and other famous landmarks that Istanbul had to offer. So we did all that (more about it later) till about 5ish when we met up with Sophia whom took us to
Lambda (Istanbul's LGBT Center ) where i stood around for a while looking like a creeper, not talking to anyone.
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| Sophia |
Then came time to rally the troops and start the march! So we headed outside to meet up with the marching band that were psyching themselves up for an epic performance. Once some signs were handed out and some idea of organization was there they started marching, myself in tow.
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| Marching band |
My face contorted in all astonishment like a father seeing the birth of his son snapping away at my camera so I was to never forget this moment. I was seeing the birth of a huge movement in an area where queers were actually oppressed. Granted this was not the first time gay pride was ever put on in Istanbul, it was actually the 18th consecutive year. Regardless it was certainly a birth for me and I was so proud of my brothers and sisters from different tongues. So many languages were represented yet most of them I haven't the slightest idea what they were saying.
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| One of Many Signs |
I was mumbling so i could keep up with the chanting. My favorite part of the event was the sheer disorganization of the march. It was as empowering as the
Washington DC march i went to in October, yet i felt like i was a part of a community. Something small yet BIG.
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| Something Big |
I felt like I was actually doing something instead of the charade that american pride parades provide. I feel as though american pride is a mockery of itself where the most important thing is finding someone to fuck. Where as Istanbul pride is speaking out against or escaping from oppression AND finding someone to fuck. What do you think? We
are only human.
Couple more Pics
