Turkey withdraws from Istanbul Convention

Turkey withdrew from a European treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, according to the country’s Official Gazette early Saturday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention that was signed in 2011.

What is the Istanbul Convention?

The Istanbul Convention is the first convention in international law that emphasizes that violence is the result of inequality between women and men and discrimination against women.

The Istanbul Convention is the first convention that includes four basic approaches consisting of “Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Support Policies” on combating all forms of physical, sexual, economic and emotional violence.

The Istanbul Convention is also the first binding convention that has an independent monitoring mechanism to combat violence and has the power of enforcement.

LGBT+ Flag Case: 2 Students Released

Two detained defendants were released in the trial in which seven students were tried for a collage work in which LGBT+ flags were placed on the image of the Kaaba at an exhibition at Boğaziçi University.

Two students, Doğu D. and Selahattin U., who were convicted of inciting hatred and enmity, were released due to the exhibition of an anonymous collage work on the image of the Kaaba at Boğaziçi University with the Shahmaran figure and LGBT+ flags.

The hearing of the case in Istanbul 21st Criminal Court of First Instance, where seven people, two of whom are under arrest, was held at the 12th High Criminal Court due to the large number of audiences.

All the defendants, including Doğu D. and Selahattin U., who have been under arrest for 47 days, were present in the courtroom. Among those who came to watch the hearing were politicians such as CHP’s Özgür Özel, Ali Şeker, Sera Kadıgil, Canan Kaftancıoğlu, TİP MP Barış Atay and Independent Deputy Ahmet Şık, as well as students’ friends and academicians.

In the case, which was held on the grounds that an anonymous collage work with a Shahmaran figure and LGBT+ flags were placed on the image of the Kaaba in the protests inside the campus, the students are tried with a prison sentence of one to three years on the charge of “publicly denigrating the religious values adopted by a section of the people”. In the case where two of the seven students were put on trial, one defendant is under house arrest.

During the hearing, which lasted about four hours, the judge asked the students “Do you have an LGBTI membership?”, And Levent Pişkin, one of the students’ lawyers, objected to the question.

Stating that it is a constitutional crime to force anyone to explain whether they are LGBTI+ or not, Pişkin emphasized that there is no such organization as “LGBTI” and therefore there cannot be a concept called LGBTI member, “There is a kind of criminalization effort. LGBTI+ society is tried to be criminalized in this way. “There are gay Muslims. There are also homosexual pilgrims. There are also those who go on the pilgrimage among homosexuals.”

On the other hand, when the statement of the defendant Sena Nur B. was taken, the judge showed her in the official courtroom and said, “Is this the picture?” he asked the students.

At the hearing, the defendant’s lawyers stated that the exhibition containing the work in question was only accessible to school students and graduates; He pointed out that the incident was enlarged after the Yeni Şafak newspaper was targeted, and the students were targeted after the issue was reflected in the media.

The court has set the date for the next hearing as July 5, 2021

LGBTI: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex

Anti-LGBTQ+ Books will not be Sold on Amazon

Amazon, one of the largest online sales sites in the world and also seen as the most valuable company, has announced that it will not sell books that show sexual identities as diseases other than heterosexual identities.

Books showing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex identities as “mental illness” will no longer be sold on the Amazon.

Amazon recently stopped selling “When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment” by conservative academic Ryan Anderson, known for his opposition to same-sex marriage. Republican senators in the US Senate interpreted this decision as not respecting the views of American conservatives and asked why Amazon stopped the sale of this book. Amazon officials made the situation public in a letter they published.

In the letter first published in the Wall Street Journal, Amazon made the following statement: “As a bookstore, we provide our customers with access to products that contain a variety of perspectives, including books that some other customers may find objectionable. However, we reserve the right not to sell certain content. All retailers can decide what to offer their customers. As for your specific question about the book “When Harry Became Sally”, we report that we chose not to sell books that frame LGBTQ+ identity as a mental illness. ”

Amazon also stressed that they had given advance notice to the publisher of the book and notified that the book was removed for “violating the content guidelines”. “It poses a danger to trans children” The fact that Amazon stopped selling the book is indeed a huge loss for publishers, as 52% of all books sold in the US and 80% of all ebooks are sold on Amazon, according to data from the mass research firm Codex Group. .

The Birmingham Lithuanian Community publicly stands for LGBTQ+

The Lithuanian Community in Birmingham United Kingdom is one of the first Diaspora communities which publicly supports Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, a member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and the chairman of the Human Rights Committee, as the only homosexual of 141 members of the Seimas.

The Parliamentary elections were held in Lithuania on 11 and 25 October 2020 to elect the 141 members of the Seimas. 71 were elected in single-member constituencies using the two-round system, and the remaining 70 in a single nationwide constituency using proportional representation. Furthermore, the 4th party by elected seats were Liberal Movement and they received 13 seats in Seimas. Among these 13 elected people were Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius which spoken publicly about his sexual orientation and his presence as a member of LGBTQ +.

In 20 of November 2020 a members of the Human Rights Committee elected a chairman which was Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius who is the only one person from LGBTQ +.

However, the chairman of Human Rights Committee received a negative opinion, expression of hatred from the public, organizations, influencers, members of the Seimas and public figures. A Lithuanian liberal MP has been under attack for advocating pro-LGBTQ+ policies, with a petition, allegedly signed by 300,000 people, calling for his dismissal as a committee chairman. Critics of the initiative say the petition is clear discrimination.

The Birmingham Lithuanian Community publicly stands for LGBTQ+

So, we are The Birmingham Lithuanian Community in United Kingdom and we are the first Community from all Lithuanian’s Communities in the world which is going to hold 4th of March live meeting with Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius and we will speak publicly about our support to him and to continue to be as chairman of the Human Rights Committee.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/259551035762314

Source: E-mail Newsletter

LGBT Health in Natural Disasters and other Emergencies

Whenever there is a public emergency or a natural disaster, health centers generally become a nerve center of activity. However, when disaster is pending, health centers should take measures to ensure that they can provide the necessary assistance and resources to the area’s most vulnerable populations, including the LGBT community (LGBT Health Education. org). Specific issues health centers should be concerned about include: higher rates of homelessness, particularly for LGBT youth, making them difficult to locate in an emergency situation; LGBT seniors often live alone and don’t have children, making access to them and ensuring that they receive the right safety information in an emergency far more difficult; LGBT relationships aren’t recognized everywhere, complicating healthcare and first response issues; those in the transgender community are often placed in a different shelter from the gender which they identify; and some in the LGBT community may find it hard to trust first responders and medical professionals due to discrimination in the past. Bathrooms can be a problem for the transgendered as well. If and when possible, centers should provide gender neutral restrooms in order to save the LGBT population from embarrassment. Those in the community should also be prepared to stand up and advocate for themselves and one another in times of disaster and crisis.

With the help of LGBT community leaders, advocacy groups and others in the community, health centers should develop proper policies and procedures to deal with these distinct LGBT issues.

The staff at these medical centers should also be trained in LGBT-specific issues. Staff should be made to recognize couples without asking for documentation of their relationship status. Staff should be trained to recognize and use the preferred gender identity and name of a person who is transgender. Working with transgender people and same sex families to make their trauma and transition as smooth as possible should be a training topic for staff as well when managing an emergency situation. Everyone working for the health care center should know the policies, procedures and best practices when dealing with the LGBT community in times of crisis. Those who are on HIV antiviral medications who have been cut off from their treatments during an emergency should have enough medication to last throughout the interim period. Emergency healthcare support and services should also be set up and policies and procedures for dealing with discriminatory acts, violence and other hate crimes against those in the LGBT community. In emergency situations it is generally the most vulnerable that are hurt the most.

Having the front line, vis-à-vis the healthcare community, on top of things will help protect the LGBT community and make sure they survive and do well during natural disasters and other emergencies.

Dr. M. Mirza, LGBT Health Wellness – May. 2014

Gender Roles in LGBT Relationships

A Cornerstone of LGBT Identity or an Obstacle to Equality?

A blog post from 2009 on “Sex, Gender and US society” carefully delineated some of the gender roles that are known well to certain circles within the gay community. Words such as “butch”, “bear”, “femme”, or “twink” may not be familiar to LGBT individuals that are not as socially active with other LGBT folks, but they have been used to describe gender roles in lesbian and gay relationships for the majority of modern times. There are a few things that anyone new to this particular subculture should be aware of. For one, gender roles do not refer to cross-dressing, although the individual may express themselves by adopting hyper-masculine or hyper-feminine dress. The use of “drag” or deliberate cross-dressing is actually more common in gender queers, who may not even participate in relationships with individuals that express gender differently. Secondly, these terms sound derogatory because to some degree they are.

As the author Logan writes, many of these terms are used by other members of the LGBT community to marginalize the people that they describe, or as a type of “intra-homophobia”. The adoption of a gender role in a homosexual relationship automatically leads to the assumption that one partner will play a dominant role and the other will be more submissive. Depending on the maturity of the homosexual couple, this formula can work very well for a relationship. Like all human relationships of course, it is not always unhealthy when one individual is more outgoing, motivated, judgmental, self-assured, etc… as long as the other person still has a backbone. The real issue arises from the perspective of an outsider. It is more of a challenge for the partner with the feminine role to garner respect from other people in general. This somewhat subversive form of gay discrimination is quite off-putting, but so far there is no statistical evidence indicating that it contributes in any way to violence against LGBT individuals.

Domestic violence in homosexual relationships is not any more common than it is in heterosexual relationships, in spite of some evidence that crimes that do not involve male-on-female violence are taken less seriously by the media. The social burden that gender roles have on LGBT individuals that assume them is probably well within the individual’s power to handle. Gender roles are a form of self-expression, not entirely unlike cross-dressing is for the gender queer individual but perhaps even more personal. For some LGBT individuals the role they use in relationships may be one that expresses their true personality. Even where this is not the case gender roles in homosexual relationships can be a way of balancing needs and giving the relationship more stability. While it cannot really be told how much gender roles influence the equality of LGBT individuals in society it is not outrageous to question whether feminine stereotypes are an obstacle for LGBTs.

The issues faced in the Medical Field by male nurses and female doctors is an excellent example of why the LGBT community should be mindful of the impact of gender stereotypes. Traditionally these two professions have been stereotypically “male” or “female”, and students that don’t heed the status quo are often accused of being gay or perverse. The problem is more marked in women pursing medical degrees, and the Journal of Women’s Health has recently published a review on the interpersonal impact that gender stereotyping has in modern culture on female medical students. The most immediate way to improve the status of LGBT individuals is to improve intra-personal perspectives and close interpersonal perspectives, and there is no better way to do that than to promote personal development. If you think that a gender role is part of who you are as an LGBT individual then it should be your own quirky, genuine gender role that you express everywhere. “Feminine” personalities and “Masculine” personalities are merely constructs that our culture has forced on us. We do not have to accept them as who we are unless they fit. The social status of all human beings will benefit when we dismiss our use of roles that are designed to debilitate and marginalize individuals, but we need not dispose of the antagonizing qualities that we crafted these roles with. Those are intrinsically human, and when they are intrinsically who we are, that’s okay!

Dr. M. Mirza – lgbt health wellness .com – 2014

Nana Akufo-Addo: Marriage Equality won’t be Legalized in Ghana

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that same-sex marriage will not be legalized in Ghana under his presidency.

Speaking at St. Micheal and All Angels Cathedral in Asante Mampong during the installation of the Second Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Ghana, the President said he won’t legalize same-sex marriage in the country.

“For same-sex marriage to be legalized in Ghana, it will not happen in my time as President,” Nana Addo said at the ceremony.

This President’s comment comes in the wake of pressure on the government to come clear and state its position on activities of persons who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex. (LGBTI+)

The opening of an LGBTI+ office at Ashongman in Accra has sparked a national debate as to whether Ghana will legalize LGBTI+.

Whoi is Nana Akufo-Addo?

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who is the current president of the Republic of Ghana. He has been in office since 7 January 2017.He previously served as Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kufuor-led administration. He is also currently serving his second term as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

LGBTQ Parenting: Recognizing Rights

The generation that followed the baby boom is reaching parenting age. Simultaneously, the sexual revolution is coming full circle. More LGBTQ people within that particular age bracket are being recognized with equal rights

Heterosexual and homosexual couples share the same human qualities: love, aspirations, plans for the future, shared finances; that’s all a given in any healthy relationship.

Biologically speaking, the complex issue of children tends to be where the two respective camps split. The paths divide at this point. Heterosexual couples must make an effort, for most of the span of their relationships, to actively avoid pregnancy, while LGBTQ couples must make a concerted effort to pursue having children, by way of either IVF or adoption. IVF therapies for lesbian couples are expensive, time-consuming, and often a strain on the health of the partner who would be carrying the child. Hormone therapy is often a necessary precursor to conception.

And yet, the LGBTQ community is reproducing in greater numbers than ever before. With an atmosphere of greater social acceptance and a wider array of options, an entire generation of LGBTQ parents is on the rise, recognized or not.

Americans Identifying as LGBTI+ Increased

According to a recent survey from the Gallup research firm, 5.6 percent of Americans are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people. This significant increase, which means about 18 million people, is attributed to the greater acceptance of LGBTI+ individuals in the society.

While this rate was 4.5 percent in Gallup’s 2017 survey, the result from the 2020 survey indicates a record jump of 24 percent. The main reason for the increase is from Generation Z adults aged 18-23. 15.9 percent of this generation say they are LGBTI+.

“At a time when the public is increasingly promoting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, ınterex + people, a growing percentage of Americans identify as LGBTI+,” the Gallup website said.

In the 2020 election, the US saw Pete Buttigieg as the first openly gay presidential candidate. LGBTI+ candidates have had multiple historic wins, including Sarah McBride, the first open transgender state senator.

According to the Washington-based research center Public Religion Research Institute, Americans’ support for same sex marriage, which was legalized in 2015 and seen largely as a synonym for LGBTI+ rights, rose from 36 percent in 2007 to 62 percent in 2020.

The Gallup survey shows that 54.6 percent of LGBTI+ Americans identify as bisexual, 24.5 percent are gay men, 11.7 percent are lesbians and 11.3 percent are transgender.

For the first survey conducted in 2012, 15,000 Americans were randomly interviewed by phone throughout 2020. While 86.7 percent of the respondents identified themselves as heterosexual, 7.6 percent refused to respond to the interviewers. This rate was around 5 percent in past surveys.

There were significant differences between generations. Among those born before 1946, seniors were much less likely to see themselves as LGBTI+. The lowest rate was recorded as 1.3 percent.

Researchers found that women were more likely to describe themselves as LGBTI+ than men. While this rate was 4.9 percent for men, it was 6.4 percent for women. From a political point of view, 13 percent of liberal respondents and 2.3 percent of conservatives identified themselves as LGBTI+.

It is noted that there is a similar trend in England. According to government data, the proportion of people identifying themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual increased from 1.6 percent in 2016 to 2.2 percent in 2018.

British MI6 Chief Apologizes for Past Discrimination

The head of MI6 has issued a public apology for unjust treatment in the past of staff and recruits because of their sexuality, acknowledging that talented and brave people who wanted to serve their country suffered because of ignorance and prejudice.

Moore, who took over as MI6 chief in October, said that until 1991 — nearly 25 years after same-sex relationships were decriminalized in the U.K. — being an openly LGBTI person while working as a spy “would cause you to lose your job or prevent you from being allowed to join in the first place.” A directive that stemmed from “the misguided view that [LGBTI spies] would be more susceptible to blackmail than straight people.”

Moore’s first prominent appointment was as the British Ambassador to Turkey. He held this post for three years, from 2014 to 2017. He spent a short period of time working as Deputy National Security Advisor (Intelligence, Security and Resilience) in 2018. He held the appointment of Director-General, Political in the FCDO from 2018 until August 2020. On the 29 July 2020, it was announced that Moore would become the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in autumn 2020.He took up this position on the 1 October of the same year.

Rainbow Tattoo Ideas

Although the Indians, Japanese, Native Americans and some tribes in Africa used the tattoo as an ornament, in many societies the tattoo was applied as a protective talisman (amulet) against illnesses and evil spirits, the position of the individual in society (slave, master, adolescent, worker, soldier) It is known to be used to emphasize.

The tradition of tattooing is quite old. It was understood from mummies that tattoos were used in ancient Egyptian society in the 2000s BC. Apart from the Egyptians, Britons, Gauls and Thracians also had tattoos. The ancient Greeks and Romans used to make tattoos on criminals and slaves, which they deemed “a barbarian occupation”. Tattoo was prohibited in the Christian faith. In contrast, the first Christians had tattoos on their bodies bearing the name of Jesus or a cross. Centuries passed, Europeans forgot about tattoos. They encountered tattoos again in American Indians and Polynesians on overseas trips in the late 18th century. European languages have taken the word tattoo, which means tattoo, from the Tahitian word tautau. Tattoo became widespread especially among sailors after the early 20th century. Tattoo was widely used to indicate romantic feelings, patriotism or piety, and is still used today.

Tattoos are also used by the LGBTI+, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex+ Community.

I’ve compiled some rainbow tattoos for you…

If you wanted to have a tattoo, which tattoo did you get? You can comment…

UK’s First Openly Lesbian MP Maureen Colquhoun Has Died

Maureen Colquhoun passed away on February 2 at the age of 92. She was a member of the Labor Party, the first openly lesbian MP and a radical feminist far ahead of her time.

Calquhoun was born on August 12, 1928 in London, England. She graduated from the London School of Economics. She entered politics in the British Labor Party. She was a delegate to the UK Parliament from 1974 to 1979. First woman politician to enter parliament as a lesbian .

Colquhoun dies on January 2, 2021 at the age of 92 in London, England, birthplace.

Homeless Shelter for LGBTI+ Opened in Naples, Italy

Friday, February 5, was an important day for the Neapolitan LGBTI+ community: The House of Cultures and Hospitality opened to host LGBTI+ people who are victims of discrimination, abuse and violence.

The municipality structure, whose address cannot be disclosed for security and protection reasons, is three-level and will be managed by Antinoo Arcigay Napoli and ten other partner associations.

Shelter; It will serve LGBTI + individuals who are exposed to violence, harassment, discrimination and exclusion.

Naples Mayor Luigi De Magistris said the municipal shelter is the only one of its kind in Italy.

“Today is an extraordinary day for rights, freedoms and justice,” said Luigi De Magistris.

De Magistris said, “This building is a sign of change. Our city believes in emotions, brotherhood, solidarity, justice and reaching out to people in need.”

The associations that will be responsible for the operation of the shelter stated that this project will strengthen their efforts to “protect civil rights in Italy and the Mediterranean”.

Antinoo Arcigay Napoli Association, which is involved in the project, also stated that the shelter will “host Covid victims as well as victims of intolerance and hate”.

The association drew attention to the fact that the coronavirus epidemic mainly affects the most vulnerable people.

Italy is in the last rank for LGBTI+ Rights

In Italy, the law granting same-sex couples legal status under the name of “civil partnership” was passed in 2016.

Although this decision is a historical turning point in the country where the Catholic Church has strong influence, Italy is still at the bottom of LGBTI+ rights among Western European countries.

According to a Eurobarometer survey conducted by European Union institutions in 2019, the acceptance rate of LGBTI+”Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, +” individuals in Italy and the proportion of those who say that same-sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples is below the European average.

What is a Bear?

Q: What is a Bear?
A: The most common definition of a “bear” is a man who is hairy, has facial hair, and a cuddly body. However, the word “Bear” means many things to different people, even within the bear movement. Many men who do not have one or all of these characteristics define themselves as bears, making the term a very loose one. Suffice it to say, “bear” is often defined as more of an attitude than anything else – a sense of comfort with our natural masculinity and bodies that is not slavish to the vogues of male attractiveness that is so common in gay circles and the culture at large.

Q: What is a Cub? Daddy? Otter? Wolf?
A: These are subclasses of “bear”. A “cub” is a younger, perhaps smaller, less experienced bear, sometimes interpreted as a bottom sexually. Conversely, a “daddy” is an older, more mature bear, usually a top sexually. “Otters” and “wolves” are thin bears, the “wolf” being more aggressive.

Q: What is the Bear Flag?

A: There are many bear flags, by far the most popular is the International Bear Brotherhood Flag. This flag is Copyright © 1995 by Craig Byrnes. The colors represent the fur colors and nationalities of bears throughout the world and it was designed with inclusivity in mind. Craig allows individuals and clubs to freely use the flag for non-commercial purposes.

Quoted from resourcesforbears.com – 2005

The Ongoing Debate of Same-Sex Marriages

Look it up in the dictionary, seriously: it’s “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law” or “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage” or even simply put an “intimate or close union.”

You won’t find any inherent ‘Christian’ origin to the word. In fact, according to the Merriam-Webster, the word was first used in the 14th century. Think about the origins of God’s Word, and you can surmise that the actual English word of ‘marriage’ wasn’t obviously used! It’s a translation.

So…. That being said, why are people still arguing like little children over a ‘word?’

You have your traditionals, mostly religious, taking ownership of the institute itself, and same-sex couples wanting the right to use the word as well. The fact is this: a marriage is a marriage, regardless of same sex or traditional man and wife. What you call it doesn’t matter. Look at the dictionary again.

For Lord’s sake, we’re not going to call them ‘unions’ or anything, or else we’ll have to change a bunch of other things: holy matrimony to legal union, getting married to getting ‘unioned,’ marriage vows to union promises (because you know the religious rite would be all over the word ‘vow,’ too).

Get off the high horse with the ‘marriage is from God’ stuff and let it go. Homosexuals have every right to get ‘married’ as anyone else, right? Let’s not twist and confuse the system anymore by injecting more lingo into something that should be simple (after all, marriage is a lot of things but simple!).

Alternative Treatments for AIDS

Alternative therapies sustain a certain level of support among patients and practitioners. Both allopathic and homeopathic clinicians have a credible place in the treatment of various disorders. But what non-conventional therapies, if any, exist for those suffering from HIV-related maladies?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America, the best recommendation is to find a balance between conventional and alternative applications. New drugs are being tested regularly in the attempt to find both a cure and a means for slowing the progression of sicknesses related to a compromised immune system. Early diagnosis is crucial to getting the jump on HIV, the virus responsible for the breakdown of human immunity and contraction of full-blown AIDS. The CDC suggests any number of modalities to alleviate symptoms of the disease, with intent to restore an element of vitality to the person suffering.

SPECIFIC THERAPIES

When prescribed a regimen of pharmaceuticals, three additional categories of treatment are typically recommended for nearly all levels of disease: mind-body, nutrition and physical therapies. Certain types of massage have proven effective in alleviating symptoms related to chronic aches and pains, and for assisting circulation of bodily fluids and nerve activity. The ability to maintain control of one’s mind is critical to any approach; a sense of well-being and peace must be actively cultivated. Research has shown that discoveries in biofeedback and thought reinforcement have measurable positive effects on all people. Dietitians agree that the tried and true adages hold up: we are what we eat, garbage in – garbage out. Those suffering with more seriously compromised immune systems will likely benefit from a targeted nutritional supplement approach.

Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Being in good health doesn’t excuse us from keeping vigil; sickness seems always to be looking for a chink in the armor. Regarding the holistic approach to healthiness, be sure to get the opinions and recommendations of qualified practitioners and the people they’ve treated. Such input will prove invaluable to recovery.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Lifestyle

Gay lifestyle consists of getting up, showering, get dressed, have breakfast, off to work, get groceries, cook dinner, do laundry, clean house, pay bills, shop online at sites like amazon.com, watch TV, and sleep. Lesbian and gay people live their lives like everyone that have families, jobs, bills, and housework. Lifestyle means your way of living, so why is “lifestyle” applied to the LGBTI community?

When a gay or lesbian person hears someone referring to their life and sexuality as “lifestyle,” “lifestyle choice,” “choice,” or “sexual preference,” it makes them cringe.

Biological studies indicate sexuality is not a choice. Gay people have to cope with prejudice, hostility, discrimination, and rejection from society, making no sense to choose being gay. Willfulness and choice has no part in who becomes homosexual. Besides, who would actually choose to be isolated, ridiculed, bullied, teased, hated, beat up, called names, rejected by friends and family, targeted in hate crimes, murder, and sexual assault and have a risk of anxiety, self- harm, depression, and suicide?

Being a young LGBTI is painful and extremely difficult to admit, even to themselves, let alone to everyone else. No one likes to feel different, rejected, or looked down upon. Most people want to be accepted and fit into our society. Being gay or lesbian isn’t only about sexuality, it’s about culture, relationships, love, and family also. They fall in love, have long term relationships, start families, raise children, and deserve to be validated and respected for who they are. Being shown respect helps raise confidence in themselves and makes them feel accepted.

Same Sex Marriages & Marriage Equality

A socially or legally recognized union of two people of the same social gender or biological sex is called a gay marriage. Countries have legally formalized marriages of same-sex couples. Recognizing such marriages has become a political, moral, civil rights, religious, and social issue in many countries. Many conflicts have arisen over allowing these couples to marry, whether the term marriage or civil union be used, or be granted limited rights or equal rights.

An argument supporting marriages of the same sex says that denying legal access to benefits and marriage discriminates based on their sexual orientation. Another supporting argument is that physical, psychological, and financial well being are all enhanced by being married. Also the children of these couples will benefit if raised by both parents in a recognized legal union that is supported by society. Court documents state if gay women and men are singled out as being ineligible to marry it stigmatizes them and invites discrimination of the public against them. Other arguments state that there are social consequences of gay marriages, parenting concerns, tradition, and religious grounds.

Gay marriages are legal in Belgium, Argentina, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Sweden. Mexico City, USA and more.. performs gay marriages but has to have recognition of all the Mexican states. Attitudes towards gay marriages range from praise, to indifference, toleration, and prohibition. Some opposers argue that religious freedoms will be eroded, and while good for a couple, the rights of children are undermined. Some supporters think the government should not regulate personal relationships.

Adoption by Same Sex couples

Adopting by LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) persons may be done by a single person, couples of the same sex, or by a couple’s partner when the other has a biological child (by step-parent). Fourteen countries have legalized adoptions to couples of the same sex. The main concerns of people that oppose LGBTI adoption are if those couples can also have good parenting skills. Legalization takes place often on judicial opinions. Supporters say many children need homes and claim their ability to parent has no relevance to their sexual orientation. Opposition suggest the alleged drug use,

Suicides, domestic violence and promiscuity among homosexuals could affect the child or cause maladjustment with absence of both role models, male and female. Both sides agree the child’s welfare should dictate the policy.

Many organizations have given statements defending the adoption by same-sex partners. The American Psychological Association (APA) cites psychological health of gays and lesbians could be harmed, while their parenting doesn’t cause the children harm. The (AMA) American Medical Association and (ASA) American Sociology Association hold similar positions for same-sex couples adopting.

In Florida in 2008, a statute that forbids gay adoptions was struck down. The judge felt equal rights of protection had been violated, and that prohibiting adoption by gay parents was not rational since they were allowed to be foster parents. The decision was appealed by the state and the lower court’s decision was upheld. In 2010, the governor announced that the ban on LGBTI adoptions will be lifted, allowing their adoptions legal in Florida. In November, 2008, voters in Arkansas approved the measure of banning anyone from adopting children or be foster parents if they “co-habitate outside a valid marriage”. It was mainly written targeting gay people because same-sex marriages was prohibited, making it impossible to adopt. However, single lesbians and gay men could adopt.

Apologizes for Sexist & Homophobic Statements

Turkish Rapper Ezhel, who is a guest of the new episode of the Justice Atlas podcast series prepared by Anadolu Kültür, apologized for the sexist expressions he used in his songs in the past years.

Ezhel, moderator Hazal Özvarış said, “If homophobia and sexism are discussed as you said in the rap community, why are we still exposed to this in rap music?” “I know that when I was young, when I was a teenager, when I was not heading, I said a lot of stupid things and I apologize to people for that. The important thing is to understand this, share it and spread awareness ”.

Emphasizing that rap music is a political music, Ezhel said, “But there are homophobia and sexist discourses in the same culture and this is discussed within the community. In this context, Ezhel apologized for the sexist lyrics he used in his songs in the past.