20/10/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
The recording of the webinar titled “The First Month of the Crackdown on LGBTI+ Rights in Türkiye” is now available on YouTube. Judith Butler and Yıldız Tar discussed the “My Family Is Safe” operations and the importance of solidarity with LGBTI+ human rights defenders.
The recording of the webinar titled “The First Month of the Crackdown on LGBTI+ Rights in Türkiye,” featuring philosopher Judith Butler and Kaos GL Editor-in-Chief Yıldız Tar, has been published on YouTube. The webinar was held one month after the launch of the “My Family Is Safe” operations targeting LGBTI+ people in Türkiye.
The webinar was attended by more than 1,500 people from Türkiye and around the world. In her speech titled “Holding the Sky Together,” Yıldız Tar described the impact of the operations on the lives of LGBTI+ people. Sharing messages sent from prison by imprisoned human rights defenders, Tar called for international solidarity.
“Even as we mourn, we organize. Even as we face travel bans and attempts at intimidation, we defend our friends in courtrooms, report the truth, and continue our struggle,” Tar said.
Speaking at the webinar, Judith Butler drew attention to the criminalization of LGBTI+ people, accusations of “obscenity,” and threats to press freedom.
“It is very important to strengthen radical joy. This attack is taking place on a horrifying scale and threatens people's lives,” Butler said.
Emphasizing that LGBTI+ people's chosen families were also being targeted, Butler stated:
“No one who attacks LGBTI+ families can claim to be defending the family. Whoever stands by your side is your family.”
Click here to watch the webinar
Tags: human rights, media, life
