Demet Demir
*She has been a transgendered activist since 1980 when she was jailed after the 1980 military
coup. She was jailed again in 1982, and again with torture in 1991.
*She was also arrested many times while working as a prostitute.
*She established the first sexual minorities’ commission within the (Turkish) Human
Rights Organization. She took part in the successful campaigns against article
159, which prevented married women working without their husbands’ consent, and
article 438, which decreases the punishment by one third in cases where the
female victim is a prostitute.
*She was the first trans woman and the first person considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International because of “sexual orientation”. She completed transition in
1996.
*International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission awarded her
the 1997 Felipa de Souza Award.
*She was a local government candidate in 1999 election.
coup. She was jailed again in 1982, and again with torture in 1991.
*She was also arrested many times while working as a prostitute.
*She established the first sexual minorities’ commission within the (Turkish) Human
Rights Organization. She took part in the successful campaigns against article
159, which prevented married women working without their husbands’ consent, and
article 438, which decreases the punishment by one third in cases where the
female victim is a prostitute.
*She was the first trans woman and the first person considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International because of “sexual orientation”. She completed transition in
1996.
*International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission awarded her
the 1997 Felipa de Souza Award.
*She was a local government candidate in 1999 election.