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Turkey's lockdown rainbows have become another symbol of division
Source: The Guardian
Turkey's lockdown rainbows have become another symbol of division
In a country highly polarised along political and religious lines the symbol has become another cultural battleground
Bethan McKernan in Istanbul
Fri 15 May 2020 07.00 BST
Last modified on Fri 15 May 2020 08.05 BST
Like many children across the world sent home from school, youngsters in Turkey were encouraged to draw pictures of rainbows and place them in windows to cheer up the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Orders to teachers from some local education boards to stop because the rainbows were part of a “plot” to turn children gay were met with surprise.
Instead of boosting morale, the lockdown rainbows have become yet another symbol of division, the latest cultural battleground in a country highly polarised along political and religious lines.''
“Unfortunately this sort of anti-LGBTQ mentality is widespread even if ordinary people don’t see a connection between children’s drawings and gay rights,” said Meral Gülsen, a representative for teachers union Eğitim Sen.
“I’m not sure if the orders have a bigger government backing. If the issue is stoked by the government though little things like this can become huge.”
As Turkey braces for a second financial crisis in as many years and voters’ faith in the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) wanes, the government is capitalising on new ways to whip up populist support as well as stymie political opposition.
While homosexuality is legal in Turkey, the LGBTQ community still faces huge stigma and is often the target of bigoted ire from conservative politicians and pundits. ...
-snip-
In a country highly polarised along political and religious lines the symbol has become another cultural battleground
Bethan McKernan in Istanbul
Fri 15 May 2020 07.00 BST
Last modified on Fri 15 May 2020 08.05 BST
Like many children across the world sent home from school, youngsters in Turkey were encouraged to draw pictures of rainbows and place them in windows to cheer up the country in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Orders to teachers from some local education boards to stop because the rainbows were part of a “plot” to turn children gay were met with surprise.
Instead of boosting morale, the lockdown rainbows have become yet another symbol of division, the latest cultural battleground in a country highly polarised along political and religious lines.''
“Unfortunately this sort of anti-LGBTQ mentality is widespread even if ordinary people don’t see a connection between children’s drawings and gay rights,” said Meral Gülsen, a representative for teachers union Eğitim Sen.
“I’m not sure if the orders have a bigger government backing. If the issue is stoked by the government though little things like this can become huge.”
As Turkey braces for a second financial crisis in as many years and voters’ faith in the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) wanes, the government is capitalising on new ways to whip up populist support as well as stymie political opposition.
While homosexuality is legal in Turkey, the LGBTQ community still faces huge stigma and is often the target of bigoted ire from conservative politicians and pundits. ...
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/turkeys-lockdown-rainbows-have-become-another-symbol-of-division
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