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LGBT in the northern part of Cyprus
History
Cyprus is still a socially conservative country when it comes to homosexuality, as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are seen as engaging in immoral conduct.
Male homosexual conduct only (not lesbianism) has been a crime since 1889 when Cyprus was a British colony, and thus like the British law against buggery, Cypriot law was technically silent about female homosexuality or lesbianism. In 1960 Cyprus became a fully independent nation from Britain and still "maintained" the old buggery laws.
Only in 2002 was homosexuality aligned with heterosexuality in terms of age of consent (17), but only in the area of the Republic of Cyprus, i.e. the southern part of the island, whereas in the northern part the British buggery laws are theoretically still valid, although a kind of ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ “tolerates” homosexuality in the private sphere.
Present situation of LGBT in Northern Cyprus
1. Public life
1.1. Work
Discrimination at work is the order of the day. Gay people are compelled to hide their sexual identity because they know that otherwise there could be heavy risks including being fired. This is especially true because there are no laws that protect gay people from discrimination or guarantee them the same rights as their heterosexual colleagues.
1.2. Military and Police
The army does not accept people who are openly homosexual. Discrimination against gay people is the order of the day. Since gays are not a part of public life in Cyprus, the fear of police controls and discrimination is very high.
1.3. Schools and Universities
There is no sexual education in the syllabus of schools in the northern part of Cyprus, and of course the topic “homosexuality” is completely taboo, as well. As a consequence, young persons who discover themselves to be gay while at school are obliged to hide their sexual identity.
Most Universities in the northern part of Cyprus are private, and sometimes there is a relative amount of tolerance between students, however no support for gay people is usually given by the teaching staff and no gay students’ organizations exist.
1.4. Mass media
Homosexuality is not a frequent topic on TV and in newspapers, but in the last few years some articles have been published that inform society about the situation of gay people in the country. This must be considered as an important step in the informing of the public. Homosexual characters in TV series etc. are usually made ridiculous or presented as effeminate, which confirms the society’s negative attitudes towards gay people (as well as its overall sexism!).
1.5. Sexual harassment
As in other patriarchal Mediterranean countries, Cypriot society makes a difference between “active“ and “passive“ male homosexuals, the “active” party being socially more “acceptable“. As a consequence many Cypriot gays have to face sexual harassment in public (but also private) spaces, undergoing the same sexual discrimination as heterosexual women, since these so-called “passive” homosexuals in this sexist view are often labeled “easy women”.
2. Private sphere
2.1. Family
The conservative structure of Cypriot society makes coming out in the families almost impossible. Private discrimination, isolation and repressive actions are the main fears of most gays in the northern part of Cyprus. Often homosexual people are left alone and without support from the family, creating a feeling of alienation in the private sphere. The families usually expect a young person to marry and have children, obliging many gays to lead a life of lies and, on the other hand, of secret activities hidden from families and, possibly, the “imposed” wife/husband. Coming out within the family structure can be considered a great exception, possible only in a few families with a Western European background.
2.2. Non-homosexual friends
Although the contact among young people can somewhat be compared to the situation within the families described above, in a certain way a change can be observed, where coming out and private “confession” are increasingly more possible among homosexuals and their heterosexual friends. This is often the only chance for gay people to talk and exchange opinions outside the gay “community”.
3. Gay life
3.1. Bars and clubs
There was one gay bar in Kyrenia, which was the main meeting place for gay people in the northern part of Cyprus. However the owner faced many problems with the police several times and the bar finally closed down in 2005. Generally speaking, owners of gay bars in Cyprus face continuous persecution by police forces and other authorities who with various pretexts persistently try to hinder the opening of gay places. One bar frequented by transsexuals used to be open in Famagusta. Now gays are compelled to frequent the bars and clubs in the southern part of Cyprus (Larnaka and Limassol). However also in the southern part episodes of unjustified police raids and discrimination have been witnessed.
3.2. Bath houses and other cruising spots
An important spot for male gays are three bath houses (“hammams”) in the northern part of Nicosia and in Kyrenia, also frequented by Greek Cypriots. There is also a park in Nicosia and one in Kyrenia, but these are extremely dangerous places where homophobic assaults and police surveillance have been registered.
3.3. Internet
The main way of contacting other gay people are still by and large the specialized international web sites with local contact pages. This is due to the isolation and “closetedness” of gay people in the northern part of Cyprus. Apart from dating, these sites are considered an important forum for opinion exchange and chat.
Expectations
The basic problem is the existing prohibitive law which makes the organization and coordination of gay liberation initiatives impossible. The fear of outing and of public confession creates a vicious circle where any movement is condemned from the outset. For this reason the immediate change of this anachronistic law is the necessary condition for any further activities.
In order to reach this aim LGBT people in the northern part of Cyprus hope that European institutions, such as the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights will put pressure on the Turkish Cypriot authorities to introduce much-needed reforms and law changes.
Moreover, intensive and well-organized information campaigns by government and non-government institutions in the public domain, for example in schools and universities/colleges are required in order to overcome ignorance about homosexuality in large parts of the Cypriot society (as described in sections 1 and 2 above).
Initiative Against Homophobia
Nicosia July, 2007
LGBT in the northern part of Cyprus
History
Cyprus is still a socially conservative country when it comes to homosexuality, as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are seen as engaging in immoral conduct.
Male homosexual conduct only (not lesbianism) has been a crime since 1889 when Cyprus was a British colony, and thus like the British law against buggery, Cypriot law was technically silent about female homosexuality or lesbianism. In 1960 Cyprus became a fully independent nation from Britain and still "maintained" the old buggery laws.
Only in 2002 was homosexuality aligned with heterosexuality in terms of age of consent (17), but only in the area of the Republic of Cyprus, i.e. the southern part of the island, whereas in the northern part the British buggery laws are theoretically still valid, although a kind of ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ “tolerates” homosexuality in the private sphere.
Present situation of LGBT in Northern Cyprus
1. Public life
1.1. Work
Discrimination at work is the order of the day. Gay people are compelled to hide their sexual identity because they know that otherwise there could be heavy risks including being fired. This is especially true because there are no laws that protect gay people from discrimination or guarantee them the same rights as their heterosexual colleagues.
1.2. Military and Police
The army does not accept people who are openly homosexual. Discrimination against gay people is the order of the day. Since gays are not a part of public life in Cyprus, the fear of police controls and discrimination is very high.
1.3. Schools and Universities
There is no sexual education in the syllabus of schools in the northern part of Cyprus, and of course the topic “homosexuality” is completely taboo, as well. As a consequence, young persons who discover themselves to be gay while at school are obliged to hide their sexual identity.
Most Universities in the northern part of Cyprus are private, and sometimes there is a relative amount of tolerance between students, however no support for gay people is usually given by the teaching staff and no gay students’ organizations exist.
1.4. Mass media
Homosexuality is not a frequent topic on TV and in newspapers, but in the last few years some articles have been published that inform society about the situation of gay people in the country. This must be considered as an important step in the informing of the public. Homosexual characters in TV series etc. are usually made ridiculous or presented as effeminate, which confirms the society’s negative attitudes towards gay people (as well as its overall sexism!).
1.5. Sexual harassment
As in other patriarchal Mediterranean countries, Cypriot society makes a difference between “active“ and “passive“ male homosexuals, the “active” party being socially more “acceptable“. As a consequence many Cypriot gays have to face sexual harassment in public (but also private) spaces, undergoing the same sexual discrimination as heterosexual women, since these so-called “passive” homosexuals in this sexist view are often labeled “easy women”.
2. Private sphere
2.1. Family
The conservative structure of Cypriot society makes coming out in the families almost impossible. Private discrimination, isolation and repressive actions are the main fears of most gays in the northern part of Cyprus. Often homosexual people are left alone and without support from the family, creating a feeling of alienation in the private sphere. The families usually expect a young person to marry and have children, obliging many gays to lead a life of lies and, on the other hand, of secret activities hidden from families and, possibly, the “imposed” wife/husband. Coming out within the family structure can be considered a great exception, possible only in a few families with a Western European background.
2.2. Non-homosexual friends
Although the contact among young people can somewhat be compared to the situation within the families described above, in a certain way a change can be observed, where coming out and private “confession” are increasingly more possible among homosexuals and their heterosexual friends. This is often the only chance for gay people to talk and exchange opinions outside the gay “community”.
3. Gay life
3.1. Bars and clubs
There was one gay bar in Kyrenia, which was the main meeting place for gay people in the northern part of Cyprus. However the owner faced many problems with the police several times and the bar finally closed down in 2005. Generally speaking, owners of gay bars in Cyprus face continuous persecution by police forces and other authorities who with various pretexts persistently try to hinder the opening of gay places. One bar frequented by transsexuals used to be open in Famagusta. Now gays are compelled to frequent the bars and clubs in the southern part of Cyprus (Larnaka and Limassol). However also in the southern part episodes of unjustified police raids and discrimination have been witnessed.
3.2. Bath houses and other cruising spots
An important spot for male gays are three bath houses (“hammams”) in the northern part of Nicosia and in Kyrenia, also frequented by Greek Cypriots. There is also a park in Nicosia and one in Kyrenia, but these are extremely dangerous places where homophobic assaults and police surveillance have been registered.
3.3. Internet
The main way of contacting other gay people are still by and large the specialized international web sites with local contact pages. This is due to the isolation and “closetedness” of gay people in the northern part of Cyprus. Apart from dating, these sites are considered an important forum for opinion exchange and chat.
Expectations
The basic problem is the existing prohibitive law which makes the organization and coordination of gay liberation initiatives impossible. The fear of outing and of public confession creates a vicious circle where any movement is condemned from the outset. For this reason the immediate change of this anachronistic law is the necessary condition for any further activities.
In order to reach this aim LGBT people in the northern part of Cyprus hope that European institutions, such as the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights will put pressure on the Turkish Cypriot authorities to introduce much-needed reforms and law changes.
Moreover, intensive and well-organized information campaigns by government and non-government institutions in the public domain, for example in schools and universities/colleges are required in order to overcome ignorance about homosexuality in large parts of the Cypriot society (as described in sections 1 and 2 above).
Initiative Against Homophobia
Nicosia July, 2007
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(Αναδημοσίευση από την ιστοσελίδα της τουρκοκυπριακής οργάνωσης)
(Αναδημοσίευση από την ιστοσελίδα της τουρκοκυπριακής οργάνωσης)
Initiative Against Homophobia claimed that items 171, 172, and 173 of Punishment Regulations-Chapter 154 should be abrogated from the code of law. These rules provide the main framework for regulating discrimination against sexual orientation, and they have not been revised since British colonial time.
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήMembers of the Initiative Against Homophobia presented their request together with a resolution regarding the intended changes on the current regulations to Fatma Ekenoglu.
Initiative Against Homophobia stated that the removal of these outdated items from current regulations is a vital step towards keeping up with rapidly improving standards of human rights and forensic understanding.
The initiative said: “Same sex relationships are considered normal and do not contradict with any moral or legal norms in many modern societies of today’s world.” Additionally, it has been indicated that regarding homosexuality as a disease and fearing the presence of LGBT people (Homophobia) in our surroundings pose a great threat to a unified society. Members of the initiative emphasized the fact that many human rights associations and progressive democrats stand up for the rights of LGBT people just like they do in case of women rights and/or minority rights; while restating their claim regarding the abrogation of items 171, 172, and 173 from the code of law.
In contrary to contemporary understanding of law, these three items indicate that having a different sexual orientation is considered as a crime and leads to imprisonment.
Initiative Against Homophobia finalized its statement by saying: “These regulations are completely out-of-date, and they contradict with the most basic and modern humanr rights and personal liberty.” The written explanation also reminded the officials that the same items criminalizing homosexuality had been in operation since British colonial time in the southern (Greek) part of the island as well; however, they were revoked following an ultimatum by European Association due to conviction by European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Initiative Against Homophobia 6/2008