German embassy flies rainbow flag in show of support for Turkey’s LGBT community

Emine Kart - ANKARA

Germany’s ambassador to Turkey, Martin Erdmann, has hoisted a rainbow flag over the embassy’s residence in Ankara in a show of support for the LGBT community in Turkey.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is observed on May 17 is marked around the world and aims to raise awareness of the discrimination that LGBT people face.

The flag was hoisted at the embassy residence on May 17 and was still flying on May 18 over the building, which is located near downtown Kızılay. 

Also on May 18, the German embassy hosted a joint event with the Ankara-based Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Researches and Solidarity Association (Kaos GL) in order to present a report on the “Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Employees in Private Sector in Turkey.” 

The first edition of the study, which was prepared by Melek Göregenli and Tanju Ş. Serdengeçti and edited by Murat Köylü, was published in December 2015 by Kaos GL.

“Germany and thus the Federal Foreign Office and German Embassy Ankara [are open] to the world and [display] tolerance. Encouraging the harmonious and peaceful [coexistence] of societies and of constituents within the same society is an important goal of German foreign policy. The embassy of Germany has been supporting human rights and LGBT activities worldwide, too,” the embassy said in a statement posted on its official website.