Lambda Istanbul is a
Turkish LGBT organization. It was founded in 1993 as a cultural space for the
LGBT community, and became an official organization in 2006. Clandestine
Pride events were held in
Turkey starting in 1993, and with Lambda
Istanbul participation, they became public marches.
The organization was ordered dissolved in May 2008 following a court decision.[1] The prosecutors claimed that Lambda Istanbul's objectives were "against the law and morality". The order has been criticized by
Human Rights Watch[2] and
Amnesty International.[3] The Supreme Court of Appeals overturned this order on November 25, 2008,[4] and on April 30, 2009, a lower court granted Lambda Istanbul permission to continue operating.[5]
Helping change the 10th article of the
Constitution, pending its amendment. According to the Article No.10 of the
Constitution of Turkey, discrimination based on language, race, skin color, gender, political opinion, religion, denomination and similar reasons is prohibited but it does not directly refer to sexual orientation or sexual identity.