ISTANBUL - Activists gathered in Istanbul to promote rights for gay and transgender people Sunday before police dispersed the crowd at a pride event that Turkish authorities had banned for the fifth year. Istanbul Pride organizers said the Istanbul governor’s office banned the march from central Taksim district as well as a square designated for demonstrations west of the city. Police allowed representatives to make a short statement to the media before officers dispersed the crowd with tear gas, blocking the street. The Istanbul Pride group said it would continue activism to get sexual orientation and gender identity recognized in Turkish laws. It said authorities rejected all suggested locations in the city by deeming the LGBT community “societally objectionable.”ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Source: thestar June 30, 2019 13:21 UTC