Today was our first full day in Izmir. It was great! After being in a city of about 15 million people who are always moving and usually screaming, Izmir has a different vibe. It feels Mediterranean, laid back, even more Greek in nature. This morning we toured a bizarre-like area, although, unlike Istanbul, these included actual shops. We then went to the waterfront to take part in Sema Pekdaş’s wall to commemorate International Women’s Day with the names of rape victims, with the wall being put together by actual citizens. I helped to build the way and actually used some material such as plaster to put it together for a period of time. It showed Izmir’s commitment to social rights and values. I also saw two same-sex couples around the area, clearly feeling more safe in Izmir to be somewhat open. We then met with Izmir’s mayor, ranked as one of the best in the world, Aziz Kocaoğlu. He was very refreshing. Unlike other political figures I’ve spoken to, most of whom were from the AKP, he acknowledged my question on LGBT rights and visibility within the city with an open, progressive mindset, and he was very cordial throughout and emphasized the support for all citizens in Izmir. This is in contrast to previous AKP members denying the existence of the LGBT population within their district. I spent the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful weather and sunshine of Izmir, relaxing by the Aegean.
