“Pride gatherings are banned in Turkey since 2015. We do not accept it and we stand together in solidarity against any attempt to oppress and silence LGBTQIA+ people.”
The Harem Of No One, the middle-eastern trouble makers gather together once again for one of the first events of the Pride Months, getting ready for their biggest event ever. They have organized their first event 7th of May, the last year in 2021, during the pandemic as an online zoom party broadcasted from the basement of the Glory with the aim of raising funds for drag queens and queer performers based in Istanbul who have lost their stage and their works and left without any support from the government. Now, after a year of cabaret events, guest appearances and parties, they are organizing another fundraiser. This time supporting the activists who are working hard to organize the Pride Week of Istanbul.
The Pride parade have been one of the most important legs of LGBTQIA+ activism in Turkey since the first one was organized in 2003. The parade’s size and the people it had reached has reached the peak in 2013 and 2014 with almost 100.000 people joining in, after the LGBTQIA+ has become one of the most visible and fearless groups to oppose the oppressive government. In 2015, the government unlawfully banned the Pride public gatherings and any attempts to meet, to do public announcements or to walk together with rainbow flags has been met with rubber bullets and tear gas of the police force. Pride committees in the country still come together and organize conferences, panels, workshops and parties during the Pride Month and rely on donations to do so. We believe the work and they are doing is important and would like to stand in solidarity and dedicate our biggest event this year to them with the goal of financially supporting their endeavours. All of the profit we make of this event will be donated to the activists working to organize the Pride activities in Istanbul.
Let’s talk about event: We are back to the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, after our first show-up as a collective, two months ago, as guests of our adorable spanish friends Lady Olé. We will be transforming the space into a big Pride cabaret, with shows happening throughout the night and the music keeping the love and the vibe matching the heat of the night. Our show’s host will be Cazeleon, the cabaret chameleon with her upbeat attitude and the style to match. Darlink Dick, Martha Barbra, Queen Döner, Tahini Molasses, Shekerparé and Sissy Sis will be preparing their best numbers. East London’s iconic DJ & Producer Grace Sands will be behind the decks, supporting the cause; joined by Toby Kind our usual soundtrack provider. You will encounter many surprise appearances along the night and pop-up performances. We will be dancing until we are kicked out.
