I started GLBT Australians of Turkish Origin (GATO) Compassionate Support and Advocacy as a support group for young GLBT people struggling with their sexual identity, who also have the added hurdle of being from an ethnic background. I am, very proudly, the first gay Turk in Perth to stand up and be counted and I have faced a big backlash in the community, which has eventually come around in support of me, especially the younger generation. It is my prerogative to enable others to come out and know that someone has done it before them and the war against bigotry and intolerance has been and is being fought everyday. So many times in my teen years I took a look at my pious and religious mother and my typical patriarchal Turkish father and thought to myself, ‘I could never ever come out’. Admittedly, it did take moving away for a few years to build my inner confidence and self respect before I could come back to Perth and face the music.
A few of my fellow Turkish friends have come to me for advice on how to approach the topic with their nieces, nephews, sons or daughters who they suspect to be gay. They come to me because they want them to know that they are okay with it and they are loved unconditionally. WOW! This is such a big change from how it was in my time. However, for every accepting Turk, there are probably a dozen or so that would disown, honor kill or force marriage their young ones, rather then entertain such a notion.
It is the kids from these families that my heart breaks for and for whom I would stop at nothing to assist. So many times in my youth – I came close to saying goodbye, but I held out until one day, it came to me as naturally as a summer’s breeze. That inner strength and resilience I thought I could never have.
I just want those out there, from a Muslim or conservative family to know that it really does get better. The inner strength will come. But you have to ride out the storm and while you’re in the thick of it. You should know that GATO is here with a sympathetic and understanding ear.
www.gatocsa.org or search ‘GATO GLBT Australians of Turkish Origin Compassionate Support Advocacy’ on Facebook.
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