Sidebar
Transcript of a Speech at Pride 2017 (Transcript)
Historical Note
This text is a transcript of the speech given by the Queer Cyprus Association at Pride 2017 in May 2017 in Nicosia.
Content
“Transcript
While we are marching, raising awareness and increasing our visibility marking the 17th of May, commemorating the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases, hundreds of homosexuals are tortured, executed in concentration camps in Chechenia. Due to the capitalist and patriarchal system prevailing on our island and various places all around the world, as well as homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, many people are subject to discrimination and violation of their basic right to live.
Like all segments of the society living on the island, we the LGBTI as well are effected negatively by the division of our island into two, by the fact that 6 different armies exist on it and the solution process has not been completed for very long years.
For this reason, it is very important for us to state that as people from the north, west, east and south of Cyprus, all that feel a sense of belonging to the island come together and struggle against geographical and mental divisions, voice that peace process is not only about an agreement reached on paper, and above all to express that we can talk about a true peace, only after homophobia, biphobia and transphobia ends, in a Cyprus and a world where no one is subject to any form of discrimination and where we can coexist in diversity. Real peace is within our own hands and it will not be made behind closed doors, but in the streets, by us.
As Queer Cyprus Association we want to underline that we shall continue to struggle until all lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans and intersex people and people of all other emotional and sexual orientations and gender identities are free, until love wins.
Greek text was translated by Despina Michaelidou however, it will be read by Dimitris, as unfortunately she was not allowed to be on stage by the organizers because exercising her right to freedom of thought and protest last year she protested against organisational aspects of the pride last year.
