Newsletter #5

QUEER CYPRUS ASSOCIATION

PRIDE MONTH SPECIAL ISSUE

July, 2020

QUEER CYPRUS ASSOCIATION:

Queer Cyprus is a civil society organization which was initiated in 2008 as “Initiative Against Homophobia”, with the goal of changing discriminatory local legislation and forming public opinion about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex rights in the northern part of Cyprus.

The association, which continued as Queer Cyprus as of 2012 with the legal amendment, strives for a world in which individuals are not discriminated on the grounds of language, religion, colour, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age and ethnicity. Therefore, Queer Cyprus embraces diversity and puts up a feminist, antimilitarist, ecologist and veganist struggle against all forms of control mechanisms.

PROJECTS:

  • Diversity of Colours Project:

The Diversity of Colours Project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Queer Cyprus Association, works towards the goal of creating a Cyprus in which all colours including lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and plus (LGBTI+) are able to co-exist. The first year of the project has been successfully completed. The project will run for another two years and will be finalized in December 2021.

 

  • Life Project:

LGBTI+ in Freedom from Exploitation (Life) project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented with the partnership of Queer Cyprus Association and KAOS GL, started in May 2019 and will continue for 2.5 years. The Life Project aims to contribute to the struggle of LGBTI+ individuals subjected to human trafficking.

 

SERVICES PROVIDED IN SCOPE OF THE PROJECTS:

  • Psychosocial Services:

The psychosocial services are provided in scope of the Diversity of Colours project to LGBTI+’s who experience economic exclusion and require social needs.

 

  • Legal Services:

 The legal support services are provided in scope of the Diversity of Colours project to LGBTI+’s who experience economic exclusion and require social needs.

 

  • Social Services:

The social services are provided in scope of the LIFE project for LGBTI+’s in order to deal with feelings of isolation resulting from social pressure and exclusion; and to ensure prevention and empowerment against risk factors.

 

You may support us via our Regular Support Channels!

You may contribute to Queer Cyprus Association by sending an SMS via your post-paid mobile line.

KKTCELL users can send an SMS to support the association on a monthly basis by texting 4271 with the text ABONE KUIR10 for 10 TL, ABONE KUIR30  for 30 TL or ABONE KUIR50 for 50 TL and VODAFONE users can send an SMS to 4271 with the text ABONE KUIR 10 for 10 TL, ABONE KUIR 30 for 30 TL or ABONE KUIR 50 for 50 TL.

 

Queer Cyprus Association has been organizing various events in scope of 17th May International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia each year since 2014. These events are significant for increasing social awareness, making LGBTI+ visible and voicing demands of the rights-based struggle. Also, June is considered as pride month in many countries around the world since the Stonewall riots of 1969. Unlike previous years, Queer Cyprus Association and Accept LGBTI Cyprus held common events online for the first time this year. Following four sessions on the LGBTI+ Movement, Love Knows No Borders, LGBTI+ and Health, and LGBTI+ Asylum Seekers, an online party was held. On the next page, you may read the joint manifesto read at the beginning of the event. In addition, as the 17th May Organization Committee, we organized a series of events with the slogan “Under the Same Sky” and we voiced the following demands:

–      Elimination of any denial policies regarding diversity of gender identity and sexual orientation and LGBTI+ rights; fair and equal judgment and the monitoring of sanctions.

–   Implementing deterrent penalties to homophobic, biphobic, transphobic and other forms of discriminatory acts.

–       Radical changes to family, health, work and education policies to ensure the acceptance of diversity.

QUEERS OF CYPRUS,

“The LGBTI+ community was reunited in the summer of 1970 in New York City, to celebrate and commemorate the rebellious and monumental night of the Stonewall Riots that took place on the 28th of June 1969. They called themselves the Gay Liberation Front and that day during the first Pride March they ignited the formation of a global LGBTI+ movement.

50 Years later following the first-ever Pride March we unite with the rest of the world to celebrate Global Pride since a lot of countries around the world, including Cyprus, are unable to have a physical PRIDE. The current pandemic did not allow it but we can still join our forces even virtually and voice our shared values- intersectionality, trust, understanding, equality, equity, and friendship. These are not just words and definitions, these are the beliefs that unite us now and will unite us in the future, whether we are white, black, people of colour and whether we speak Turkish, Greek, English or any other language. Many of us were the children that have faced discrimination for our sexual orientation and/or gender identity or the children that couldn’t fit into the binary. We want to break the boxes imposed on us by society and empower our true selves. What unites us today is our fight against injustice and inequalities. A fight for a better future with no borders, no lines, no class, no gender, and no separation of people. A common fight to achieve full respect for sexual orientation and gender identity diverse human rights. The first-ever joint pride will be online this year, but we are here, we are queer, and we will be united every year whether it is online or in person. Happy Pride!  ”

 

Newsletter 5

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