05/03/2026 | Writer: Kaos GL
LGBTI+ associations condemned the attacks by the US and Israel against Iran and called for peace.
LGBTI+ associations condemned the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran. Saying “Bombs do not bring freedom: No to the imperialist war of the US and Israel!”, the associations emphasised in their statement that the LGBTI+ movement’s struggle for freedom cannot be considered separately from the struggle for peace.
The associations recalled that recent history has been overshadowed by the genocide against LGBTI+ people in Nazi Germany, the attacks of Islamist groups such as ISIS, the 10 October Ankara Train Station Massacre, the executions of LGBTI+ people by the mullah regime in Iran, the repressive policies particularly targeting trans people during Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States, and the policies carried out against LGBTI+ people in Türkiye. Despite this, the associations stated that they will not give up defending peace, equality and freedom, and emphasised that they are fighting not only for LGBTI+ people’s access to rights, but also for a world where inequality, injustice and violence are eliminated, where there is no war, and where equality, justice and freedom prevail:
“As LGBTI+ people, we struggle for freedom for all by seeking ways of living together against systems of oppressive violence. And we say it clearly: the struggle for peace cannot be separated from the struggle for freedom. Our recent history has been overshadowed by many forms of violence. The genocide against LGBTI+ people in Nazi Germany, the brutality of fundamentalist Islamist formations such as ISIS, the October 10 Ankara Train Station massacre, the execution of LGBTI+ people by the mullah dictatorship in Iran, the policies of repression against LGBTI+ people and especially trans people under the Trump administration in the United States, and the special war policies declared against LGBTI+ people in Turkey. Yet despite all this, we never give up defending freedom, equality and peace. For this very reason, our fight is not limited to the rights of LGBTI+ people alone. We fight for a world where inequality, injustice, violence and war no longer exist, and where people can live together in peace, equality, justice and freedom.”
“We refuse to be silent in the face of this war”
The associations stated, “This is not the world we are fighting for, and as LGBTI+ organisations we will not remain silent in the face of this war or the destruction it causes,” and added the following:
“Again, we find ourselves in the middle of a war created by the imperial expansionist calculations, national security delusions, and the patriarchal mindset that sees violence as the only solution of the United States and Israel. During the U.S. invasion of Iraq, we were part of the peace movement against war and stated clearly that any invasion driven by imperialist interests would bring freedom to no one. Once again, we say clearly: this is not the world we are fighting for. As LGBTI+ people, we refuse to be silent in the face of this war and the destruction it brings.”
“One of the groups most affected by war is us, LGBTI+ people”
The associations noted that LGBTI+ people are among the groups most affected by war and said the following:
“Throughout our long struggle for peace, the wars we have witnessed have shown us this: when international law is trampled underfoot, it becomes impossible to speak of lawfulness, proportional use of force, or the protection of civilians. Bombs are claimed to target “military objectives” at first, yet inevitably they fall on our neighborhoods, schools, and homes. The destruction caused by war restricts people’s access to healthcare, housing, and clean water. And war strikes women, children, the elderly, and other oppressed groups the hardest. One of the groups most affected by war is us, LGBTI+ people. In war environments, discourses of morality and security spread easily and become hegemonic. These discourses intensify oppression targeting LGBTI+ people. Along with the spread of militaristic rhetoric, the glorification of masculinity, heteronormativity and authoritarianism becomes normalized. War is not only weapons, tanks and artillery. War is also an ideology of obedience and uniformity that suppresses difference and silences dissent under the rhetoric of national unity.”
“Our side against war is peace”
The associations said, “Our side against war is peace. The struggle of LGBTI+ people who raise their voices against executions in Iran, of women who take to the streets for freedom, and of peoples demanding equality is also our struggle,” and concluded the statement as follows:
“LGBTI+ people become increasingly targeted, stigmatized and excluded, since our very existence stands against imposed homogenization. Even the most basic needs may become inaccessible. Compulsory military service, militarization and paramilitary formations pose direct threats to us. War can trigger waves of displacement and migration, and LGBTI+ people may be forcibly displaced. During migration and forced displacement processes, LGBTI+ people often face discrimination and may be compelled to confront new forms of oppression. Therefore, opposition to war is not merely a foreign policy issue for us; it is a struggle for existence. The oppressive nature of one state does not justify the bombardment by another. Human rights violations in Iran cannot be opposed by adding new violations on top of them. For this very reason, as LGBTI+ organizations, we want to underline that it is urgent to declare an immediate ceasefire and ensure the protection of civilians; to halt military operations and put diplomatic solutions on the table; for international institutions and organizations, which when it comes to the people of Iran often apply double standards, either by remaining silent or by hiding behind claims of neutrality, to fulfill their responsibilities; to ensure that international law is enforced; and finally, to bring to the agenda the peoples’ right to self determination. All of this is of vital importance in order to stop, before it grows, the destruction this war will cause, and to eliminate the risk of a wider regional war. Our side against war is peace. The struggle of LGBTI+ people who raise their voices against executions in Iran, the struggle of women who take to the streets for freedom, and the struggle of peoples demanding equality, is also our struggle.”
Signatory associations
Mersin LGBT 7 Renk Association, May 17 Association, 20 November Association Against Hate Crimes, Kaos GL Association, Red Umbrella Sexual Health and Human Rights Association, Lambda Istanbul LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, LGBTI+ Families and Friends Association (LISTAG), HEVI LGBTI+ Association, Free Colours Association, Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD), Pink Life LGBTI+ Solidarity Association, Young LGBTI+ Association, GALADER, UniKuir.
Tags: human rights, media, life
