Walking on Thin Ice: When Coming Out Day Becomes a Social Obligation
Every year, Coming Out Day arrives accompanied by stories of courage, self-acceptance, and authenticity. Personal testimonies are shared, experiences are celebrated, and recognition is given to those who have chosen to stop hiding a fundamental part of who they are. Yet amid this celebration, an important question often goes overlooked: what if our focus on […]
When Love Becomes a Place to Survive
International Lesbian Day – 8 October Sami Al-Aghabashi – GEM Manar never imagined that love could become an act of survival. She once believed love unfolded the way people around her described it: a passing glance, a gentle word, a quiet closeness that opens the door to a life built slowly and safely. But in […]
Guardians of Equality Movement’ın Türkiye’de LGBTİ+ Örgütlerine Yönelik Güvenlik Operasyonu Hakkındaki Raporu
12–13 Eylül 2026 gecesinden bu yana Türkiye makamları, “Ailem Güvende Operasyonu” adı verilen süreç kapsamında LGBTİ+ örgütlerini, aktivistleri ve gazetecileri hedef alan geniş çaplı bir güvenlik operasyonu yürütmektedir. On beş ile yayılan operasyon sonucunda 160’tan fazla kişi gözaltına alınmıştır. Gözaltına alınanlar arasında hak örgütlerinin yönetim ve denetim kurullarının önde gelen üyeleri, gazeteciler ve LGBTİ+ hakları […]
Guardians of Equality Movement Report on the Security Crackdown Against LGBTQIA+ Organizations in Türkiye
P.S.:Raporu Türkçe olarak incelemek için lütfen bağlantıyı ziyaret edin. Since the night of 12–13 September 2026, Turkish authorities have carried out a widespread security crackdown targeting LGBTQIA+ organizations, activists, and journalists under what has been called “Operation My Family Is Safe.” The operation extended across fifteen provinces and resulted in the detention of more than […]
GEM: Key Source in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Report on Syria
The Guardians of Equality Movement (GEM) was mentioned as a primary source in this year’s report issued by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation in Syria during 2025. The report relied on GEM’s documentation as a source of information regarding the humanitarian crisis and the human rights implications for the most vulnerable […]
One Dead and Dozens Injured: Suspect Behind Berlin Pride Attack Killed
Berlin police reported that one person was killed and 26 others were injured following a ramming incident during the Christopher Street Day parade—one of Germany’s largest annual events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, which attracts hundreds of thousands of participants from within Germany and abroad. The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 PM on Saturday, July 25, […]
Solidarity Statement with the LGBTQIA+ Community in Türkiye Following the Attacks on the Pride Parades
We express our full solidarity with the Turkish LGBTQIA+ community and all participants in the Pride events following the attacks on Pride marches in İzmir and Istanbul, Ankara Pride, and Kuşadası, including the bans imposed on the events, the security interventions against peaceful Pride activities, and the resulting arrests of participants, and investigating the lawyers […]
GEM Cited as a Source in German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) Report: “Syria After Assad”
Since its inception, the Guardians of Equality Movement (GEM) has dedicated its efforts to building expertise in documenting the realities of LGBTQIA+ individuals both inside Syria and in the diaspora. Thanks to these sustained efforts, numerous reports, research papers, and studies published by GEM have become primary sources for international human rights organizations, official institutions, […]
Syria: The Legal Position on LGBTQIA+ Individuals’ “Fear of Entering the Police Station and Not Exiting”
After more than a year since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and with it, the end of half of a century of tyranny and violence, the country has entered a transitional phase that, according to the new leadership, aims to “build a constitutional state.” Achieving this goal, however, appears extremely difficult amid […]
Asexuality: Misunderstood and Marginalized within the LGBTQ+ Community
Asexuality refers to the lack of sexual attraction to others, regardless of gender. It is considered one of the least understood and most overlooked sexual orientations in society. However, it is a natural orientation within the human sexual spectrum, allowing individuals to build strong emotional relationships based on love and respect, even in the absence […]
