Turkey's 13th Istanbul LGBTI Pride Parade was supposed to take place at 17:00 on Sunday in one of Istanbul's main squares, Taksim, but following the ban by the Istanbul Governorate barely minutes before the parade and the parade participants' unwillingness to leave the square caused the event to turn sour which resulted in the riot police using teargas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Last week, on Sunday, thousands gathered for Turkey's 6th annual Trans Pride march, which was hosted again in Istanbul. The march came ahead of the city's 23rd Gay Pride Week, which runs from June 22 to June 28. In last week's Trans Pride march, no incidents had arisen even though thousands of people had participated in the march along Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue. The people demanded changes to legislation on gay rights.
Today's march, however, was a scene of water cannons and rubber bullets as the crowd refused to leave the square upon the governorate's demand. However, it was not clear why the marchers were denied to gather and march in the square.
Lady Gaga, an outspoken activist for LGBT rights worldwide, has also shared her views regarding Sunday's incident on her twitter account.
Governor! Set an example for people to celebrate both Ramadan and Pride in PEACE, instead of dividing with violence! #OnurYuerueyuesue
LGBT pride parade first took place in 2003 and now it is held every year on either the last Sunday of June or the first Sunday of July. Only about 30 people had taken part in the first parade, whereas today the parade attracts thousands. Participants assemble in Taksim Square before marching the entire length of Istiklal Avenue.
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