Istanbul: Riot Police Use Rubber Bullets & Tear Gas On Pride Parade

Earlier this week I reported that the government in Istanbul cancelled an LGBT Pride Parade set to take place this weekend.

When Pride goers showed up today, the riot police used rubber bullets and tear gas on the crowd.

From the Guardian:

Riot police have fired teargas and rubber pellets to disperse an LBGT march in Istanbul that had been banned after ultranationalists said “degenerates” could not demonstrate.

Hundreds of riot police cordoned off Taksim Square in the heart of the city to prevent the Trans Pride rally taking place during Ramadan.

Authorities have banned transgender and gay pride marches this month, which coincides with the period of fasting for Muslims, citing security concerns after warnings against any such events taking place in Turkey.

Although the Turkish republic is constitutionally secular, the vast majority of the population is Muslim.

News Round-Up: June 18, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Donald Trump, who says he's "better" for the gays than Hillary, poses for pic with virulently anti-gay pastor.

• After celebrating LGBT Pride for 13 years and drawing tens of thousands of attendees, the government of Istanbul has cancelled any Pride events this year.

• The FBI is now "skeptical" of the idea the the Orlando nightclub shooter was gay.

• Kenya's High Court rules that "anal tests" for homosexuality are constitutional.

• Major corporations are dropping or scaling back their sponsorship at the Republican convention this year.

• One Alabama county refuses to lower U.S. flags to half-staff in honor of the Orlando nightclub shooting victims.

• Uber has begun offering free rides to and from select locations of importance to the LGBT community in 40 cities.

• And finally, Happy Saturday! Go out, get some fun, or at least get a little dirty...

A photo posted by Max Emerson (@maxisms) on Jun 17, 2016 at 8:05am PDT