Iris Mozalar , a young transgender woman residing in Istanbul, views Pride Week as an act of resistance rather than a celebration under Turkey 's conservative government, which openly opposes the LGBTQ community. The 24-year-old, who studies urban planning and works as a DJ and model, stated, "Ours is a struggle to survive." During his re-election campaign last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his allies targeted the LGBTQ community, labeling them as "perverse" and a threat to traditional family values.
Activists claim that this rhetoric has led to an increase in hostility towards the community. Mozalar emphasised, "We are waging a struggle against the police, against the state security apparatus," adding, "That's why I can never look at (the Pride march) as a celebration, because frankly we don't have much to celebrate." Growing up in Mersin, Mozalar faced bullying from peers and teachers who sensed her difference.
It wasn't until she was 17 that she truly understood her identity. "I can never forget the moment when I stood naked in front of the mirror and admitted to myself: 'Yes, I am a woman', Mozalar told news agency AFP Transitioning in Turkey is an incredibly challenging process, involving numerous sessions with psychiatrists, endocrinologists, and examinations by various medical experts. Only a court can approve gender-affirming surgery, and the cost has become prohibitively expensive for most transgender individuals.
Despite the surgery, Mozalar still.