Halil İbrahim Dinçdağ was forced to quit his job as a soccer ref in Turkey after he turned up gay.
And that took care of the last gay person in Turkey.
Dinçdağ actually lost his job because he couldn't complete his compulsory military service. But according to regulations in Turkey, anyone failing to complete their military service for health reasons is unfit to perform as a referee.
The 33-year-old was excused from military service after he was listed as gay on his medical report. To which the only rational response is: Being gay is a medical condition in Turkey?
Anyway, Dinçdağ came out and appeared on national TV as the new co-host of Turkish Project Runway.
Oh c'mon. What good are stereotypes if we can't use them for easy jokes?
Dinçdağ was actually far more serious and made a reasoned plea: "Please stand tall against the unfairness against you, whenever something wrong is happening," he said. "Say that it is wrong. Say what is right for you."
Not exactly MLK stuff, but UF supports you as you fight the good fight, Dinçdağ. Just so long as you look fabulous doing it.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Turkey: Now 100% Gay-Free
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4 comments:
It wasn't actually "gay" on the medical report. The ref was diagnosed with a severe case of Lamaritis. Shame, really. It can happen to the best of us.
No word on whether it was this ref?
This problem does not affect America, especially our armed forces.
That's a cross between a young Peter Sellers and who? It's killing me...
Last one or the first one? His coming out in such a patriarchal profession has become a very good material for turkish media. It's discussed by dozens of writers and in a couple of TV shows.
Additionnally, there are more discussions about some writers' bigotries on homosexuality and a politician's comment on a transsexual singer.
There are again more discussions about about the violence against the LGBT people (sometimes killings) by homophobes.
We just closed another discussion on the legal situation of an LGBT NGO.
Believe or not, this is the beginning of the turkish gay rights movement. 10 years ago, homosexuality was almost invisible. Today, It's been discussed by the mainstream media.
Gays are on the streets almost every week. One day, they protest a homophobic newspaper, another day they protest a homophobic killing. 5 days ago, we had march against homophobia in Ankara. Today, they will make protest to support the gay referee in Istanbul.
The movement is tiny compared to France or USA but it is progressive. Therefore, I don't think he was the last gay person in Turkey but has become an important mean for more discussion on gay rights.
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