KAOS GL

KAOS GL is a Turkish LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights organisation founded in 1994. The organisation has been publishing the journal KAOS GL (now a quarterly publication) since its founding. The group operates the KAOS Cultural Center, which hosts cultural activities, meetings, and showings of films. The center also houses a LGBT history library.

KAOS GL applied for non-government organisation (NGO) status with the Ministry of the Interior in July 2005 under the name of Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Organization. Although the deputy governor of the capital, Ankara, had petitioned a court to rule that Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Organization is breaking the nation's immorality laws, in October 2005 the Prosecutor decided not to proceed with the case. KAOS GL has been a legally registered non-government organisation (NGO) since October 2005.[1]

Kaos GL organized the first annual LGBT march in the capital of Turkey, Ankara on May 2008. Over 100 gay men and women, bisexuals and transgender people assembled in front of the human rights monument in Yuksel Street. Then they marched to Parliament on International Day Against Homophobia jointly organized by Kaos Gay and Lesbian Association and Pink Life LGBTT Association.[2]

On May 2009, Kaos GL organized the second annual march against homophobia and transphobia. Around 300 people took part in a Rally against homophobia and transphobia organised by the LGBT rights group Kaos GL. The crowd marched from Kurtulus Park to the Human Rights Monument in Yuksel Street in Ankara. The demonstration ended with a press statement, which called for the acknowledgement of lebians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals (LGBTT).[3]

Kaos GL has been organizing international anti-homophobia meetings since May 2006. Anti-Homophobia Meeting was first held as a four-days hall event in May 2006. In 2007, together with the central events, “Campus Meetings Against Homophobia” were realized in the three biggest university campuses of the capital, Ankara. 4th annual meetings took place in six cities, from May 1 to May 17., 2009. 4th International Anti-Homophobia Meeting, started with the May 1 March in Ankara; and ended with May 17 Anti-Homophobia March again in Ankara. Various meeting took place also in the cities of Izmir, Eskisehir, Van, Diyarbakir and Istanbul together with Ankara.[4]

See also

• LGBT rights in Turkey
• LEGATO
• List of LGBT rights by region
• LGBT community
• Category:LGBT museums and archives

Sources

• news.kaosgl.com, KAOS GL news page in English

External links

• www.kaosgl.com, KAOS GL homepage in Turkish and English