Social Policies, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation Studies Association (SPoD) organized campaigns to build bridges

During the 2014 municipal elections, SPoD led a campaign to ensure that LGBTI advance in local administrations and to support LGBTI candidates. What is known as the “LGBTI-Friendly Municipality Protocol” is part of SPoD’s advocacy work on LGBTI rights in local politics. Five municipalities from three cities (Şişli, Beşiktaş and Kadıköy in Istanbul; Akdeniz in Mersin and Nilüfer in Bursa) have signed the protocol, promising to improve LGBTI’s representation in local politics and to ensure an equal access to local services for LGBTI people. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, SPoD organized a campaign under the motto “At school, at work, in the parliament!” in order to facilitate effective LGBTI participation in the decision-making process. 61 candidates from various political parties signed the LGBTI Rights Agreement. After November 1, 2015 early elections, 16 of these candidates who promised to work for LGBTI rights were elected into the parliament. For more information: http://spod.org.tr/en/field-of-work/political-participation/political-campaigns