The 17th LGBTT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite and transsexual) Pride Week ended with a Pride March in Taksim, central Istanbul, on June 28, Bionet.org said the next day. It said more than 3000 people took part.
Bionet.org said the crowd, gathered around a huge rainbow flag in Taksim Square, were at first prevented from marching by police. The crowd protested the police action, shouting slogans for about an hour.
The police then allowed the crowd to march 鈥渨ithout placards or slogans鈥�.
Demonstrators defied police, shouting slogans such as: 鈥淒on鈥檛 be silent, shout it out, homosexuals exist鈥�; 鈥淏arricades for murderers, not for homosexuals鈥�; 鈥淲hose morals are 鈥榞eneral morals鈥�?鈥�; 鈥淎 different world is possible鈥�; and 鈥淗omosexuals will not remain silent鈥�.
Protesters carried placards reading: 鈥淲e are neither wrong nor alone鈥�; 鈥淲e are here, get used to it鈥�; 鈥淚f morals mean oppression and violence, then we are immoral鈥�; and 鈥淔ind the murderers of Ahmet Yildiz鈥� (referring to the murder of a young gay man).