Since 1969, the last week of June, which is known as Gay Pride, celebrates the LGBTQ’s (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Queer) struggle for existence in society. The Stonewall riot which began with a group of LGBTQ individuals’ resistance to a police raid has become a symbolic event for the modern LGBTQ history. The seeds of the LGBTQ Pride Week, which is celebrated like a festival all around the world, were planted with the events that took place in New York’s Stonewall Inn on 27-29 June 1969.
Initiative Against Homophobia Association continues to work in order to improve the visibility of LGBTQ individuals in society. Today, LGBTQ rights are considered an integral part of human rights. However, homosexual relationships are still categorized under “unnatural” offenses in our country and is considered a crime according to Chapter 154 of the Penal Code. As Initiative Against Homophobia we believe that in order to become a more civilized society, it is necessary to urgently remove this violation to human rights and to enhance the visibility of LGBTQ individuals.
As Initiative Against Homophobia, in order to raise awareness to the liberation of LGBTQ individuals and to forms of oppression such as homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, we will be holding a series of events as part of the Pride Week (LGBTQ Pride). Also, we will be visiting political parties to enact a law in accordance with our proposal prepared in 2008 in order to immediately repeal the outdated implementation within Chapter 154 of the Penal Code which categorizes homosexual relations as a crime.
As LGBTQ people, we regret to say that we will not be holding the Pride Walk as part of the Pride Week events. However, we are sure that the riot and struggle for Freedom which began with a group of people at Stonewall Inn will be lighting our way towards the goal of enhancing human rights of LGBTQ people living in Cyprus. As the Initiative Against Homophobia we are aware that there is “no liberation on your own, it’s either all or none”.
Initiative Against Homophobia Association
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