Lesbian & Gay inter-university Organization (LEGATO)
History:
1996-The idea of bringing together homosexual university students began.
Soon afterwards it was called LEGATO.
1997- the group, inspired by METU, opened another office in Hacettepe University. In LEGATO's early years,
they took part in many LGBT-related activities, such as opening stands
in spring festivals, arranging weekly meetings, broadcasting movies, putting up
posters, etc.. Thus, many university students were gradually becoming more aware
of their own university's gay community. However, being either a member or
founder of either of the groups ruined their chances of graduation.
2000- After keeping quiet, two years later, with the GayAnkara group being
the forefoot of the project, LEGATO found life again. As the first stage, on 28
June 2000, email listings opened to 23 universities (84 as of 2006).
LEGATO began to spread out from Ankara to Istanbul, starting at Boğaziçi University. Soon, campus meetings were
organized, a website was made, and the group engaged in many cultural
activities. Meanwhile, the list of email addresses was expanding, as was the
group.
20 December 2000- the LEGATOs maintained contact with each other by
creating the Legato Ortakliste (Legato union list)
January 10, 2001- all the LEGATO offices in Istanbul (more than 60) arranged one big
gathering.
January 19, 2002- none of the universities were able to maintain the
attendance levels by themselves and intended continuance, so all Istanbul LEGATO
branches decided to merge as one unified group. From this day onwards LEGATO has
become much faster and organized. Composed of students, graduates and academics,
to this day LEGATO is arguably Turkey's biggest and most active homosexual group.
Goals of LEGATO:To bring homosexual university students together To educate the Turkish community more about homosexuals To tackle homophobia To maintain contact amongst homosexual university students To support homosexual students during their lives at university
1996-The idea of bringing together homosexual university students began.
Soon afterwards it was called LEGATO.
1997- the group, inspired by METU, opened another office in Hacettepe University. In LEGATO's early years,
they took part in many LGBT-related activities, such as opening stands
in spring festivals, arranging weekly meetings, broadcasting movies, putting up
posters, etc.. Thus, many university students were gradually becoming more aware
of their own university's gay community. However, being either a member or
founder of either of the groups ruined their chances of graduation.
2000- After keeping quiet, two years later, with the GayAnkara group being
the forefoot of the project, LEGATO found life again. As the first stage, on 28
June 2000, email listings opened to 23 universities (84 as of 2006).
LEGATO began to spread out from Ankara to Istanbul, starting at Boğaziçi University. Soon, campus meetings were
organized, a website was made, and the group engaged in many cultural
activities. Meanwhile, the list of email addresses was expanding, as was the
group.
20 December 2000- the LEGATOs maintained contact with each other by
creating the Legato Ortakliste (Legato union list)
January 10, 2001- all the LEGATO offices in Istanbul (more than 60) arranged one big
gathering.
January 19, 2002- none of the universities were able to maintain the
attendance levels by themselves and intended continuance, so all Istanbul LEGATO
branches decided to merge as one unified group. From this day onwards LEGATO has
become much faster and organized. Composed of students, graduates and academics,
to this day LEGATO is arguably Turkey's biggest and most active homosexual group.
Goals of LEGATO: