Carnaval

Between 2016 and 2017, I lived in Toronto’s gay neighborhood for my post-doc. For a year, I witnessed everyday life in this neighborhood, but it was the Pride march that excited and fascinated me the most. As someone born and raised in Turkey, my LGBTQ+ friends were always banned. They were making a superhuman effort to march, dress freely and participate in life. In Toronto, the state’s army, police, doctors, and bureaucrats took part in the Pride march. I remember being very surprised to see President Trudeau marching at the head of the cortege with his family. This freedom was not familiar to me. That’s why my excitement was growing even more. As a photographer, everyone I approached to take a photo was smiling. For the first time in my professional life, the police in Toronto were doing their best to provide security for people who are marginalized in my country and always despised as the marginalized other, and the public was waiting excitedly to see the march. Whereas in my country, others are always subjected to violence.When I saw your call, I decided to participate with my photographs. Maybe I was waiting for an opportunity to get to know you better and to produce different projects.That can happen with you.