By Cathy Kristofferson, June 24, 2013
Last night a coalition of U.S. activists answered the call to action made by LGBT activists in Istanbul Turkey. The activists determined to help raise awareness about the Turkish government’s brutality and threatened suppression of Turkey’s Pride march, held a light panel protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C.
The light panels displayed the word “RESISTANBUL”. Activists also had signs that read “RESISTANCE IS NOT TERRORISM”.
GetEQUAL D.C. and CodePINK were among the participating organizations.
As a follow up action, today GetEQUAL D.C. delivered a letter to the Turkish Embassy imploring the Turkish government to allow the LGBT community its democratic right to assemble, to hold their Pride March, with the further request that their safety be guaranteed, especially in the Taksim Park area, throughout this Pride Week of June 24-30.
The letter delivered referenced last week’s call made by both President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry that everyone worldwide should defend and stand with their LGBT communities.
President Obama, speaking in Germany, said:
“When we stand up for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and treat their love and their rights equally under the law, we defend our own liberty as well.”
Secretary of State John Kerry, stated:
“…we have a moral obligation to stand in pride with LGBT individuals and advocates. We have a moral obligation to decry the marginalization and persecution of LGBT persons. And we have a moral obligation to promote societies that are more just, more fair and tolerant.”
Representatives from the GetEQUAL State Chapters will also deliver copies of the letter to Turkish Consulates in multiple U.S. cities this week. The complete letter is below. 
Amnesty International, which in recent days has held protests in front of Turkish Embassies in Dublin, Berlin, and Rome stood today outside the Turkish Embassy in D.C., joined by activists from last night’s light panel action.
Below is a collage of “Resistance Is Not Terrorism” as presented by numerous supporting activists, including peace activist Cindy Sheehan and Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.
Tweet #RESISTANBUL
GetEQUAL’s letter to Ambassador Tan of Turkey:
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my thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in Turkey this week. if any of them reads this, i hope they will know that i am not the only one…that there are millions of us, all over the world, who watch, and walk, and wait with them. we are ALL ‘Family’, united by our common cause–so that all LGBTs everywhere can simply ‘be who they are.’ none of us is ever, ever ‘alone’ again! please be safe, and know that i send my encouragement, respect, and much love to each and every one of you! xoxoxo, Sherri Gray