LGBT association launches campaign against homophobic 'self-help' books

ISTANBUL

Lamda said it was contacting bookstores and trying to dissuade them from selling books that treat homosexuality as an unnatural condition.

A Turkish LGBT association has launched a new campaign against self-help books describing homosexuality and transsexuality as a “disease,” a “psychological disorder,” or an emotional issue.

The association, Lamda said it was contacting bookstores and trying to convince them not to sell books that label homosexuality as an unnatural condition that can be treated with therapy.

Özge Güdül, also a psychologist, argued that the books can be very destructive for some individuals, especially when they try to put the methods presented as “self-help” in practice.

Güdül also said the association was planning to freely distribute a book to the public that would raise awareness on sexual orientation.

Lambda has also issued a call to prepare a "blacklist" of bookstores selling titles that treat homosexuality as a disease.