OTHERS IN MEDIA: LGBT INDIVIDUALS
OTHERS IN MEDIA: LGBT INDIVIDUALS

Author(s): Yasemin Giritli İnceoğlu
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Media studies, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Communication studies, Social differentiation
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: LGBT; gender; others; media; Turkey;
Summary/Abstract: In Turkish media, the representation of homosexuality is roughly categorized in three periods. “Homosexuals” were perceived as abnormal and “an imaginary creature” after the coup d'état on September 12, 1980. Homosexuals appeared on media as individuals relating to murders, immorality, anal sex, prostitution, transsexual in slang, AIDS, and a bad example for kids in society. After the formula which homosexuality equals to transvestite and trans-sexuality was dominated in the first period, the lack of self-confidence in the period of visibility on media raised doubts about media. “Half-masked” would not be wrong to say for this period. In the second period, Kaos GL (Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Research and Solidarity Association) issued the first magazine on gays and lesbians in Turkey in 1994. In addition to this magazine, Express periodical magazine and Cumhuriyet daily of the year gave coverage to LGBT movement. Eventually, the third period may be defined as “unmasked.” On May 1, 2001, Kaos GL freely and confidently remonstrated with labors and students by holding a banner on which “we are homosexuals, we are real and here” was written. The current situation is as is known to all. Although media is generally seen as shifted from apprenticeship to mastership on making news about LGBT individuals, they sometimes report or broadcast extremely sensitively, but they occasionally get out of kilter by giving headlines such as “They seized after getting out gay bar”, “Transvestite Violence”, “Homosexual Murder”, “I killed because he asked me anal sex,” “Transvestites bargain for prostitution on streets.”

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