Istanbul’s 34th LGBT+ Pride Week Unveils Theme: “AÇIK S’AÇIK”

The Istanbul Pride Week Committee has announced the theme of the 34th LGBT+ Pride Week, which will run from June 22 to 28: “AÇIK S’AÇIK.” Bianet reports that, at a time when Turkish authorities continue to restrict LGBT visibility in public space, organisers once again described the week and the march as a space for gathering, self-expression, and solidarity.

The slogan does not translate neatly into other languages, and that is part of its political charge. In the committee’s statement, it is tied to openness, refusal to hide, and refusal to fit into an imposed moral order. The organisers say they are out in the open not because the state or institutions gave them permission, but because their existence exceeds the boundaries being imposed on them.

The statement also places pride within a broader coalition of oppressed groups. The committee says the LGBT struggle is also the struggle of women, the working class, Alevis, Armenians, Kurds, and other communities facing violence, denial, and exclusion. In that framing, Istanbul Pride is not only a celebration of visibility but also an open line of political resistance.

That context matters because Istanbul Pride has faced bans, detentions, and police pressure for years. Even so, the organisers say they will not give up the street, joint struggle with other movements, or demands for access to healthcare, housing, legal support, and mental health services for LGBT people.