The Political Cultures and Ways of Activism of LGBTI Youth in Turkey

In this article, the processes of political engagement of young LGBTI activists as one of the most dynamic actors of social movements in Turkey in the 2000s, the elements of political cultures and forms of activism will be analyzed. The article is based on the results of a field survey which consists of individual interviews with 30 young activists from 7 different cities actively involved in the LGBTI movement across Turkey. While I consider the political capital of LGBTI youth activists in the 2000s, I will discuss what meanings LGBTI young people attribute to the politics, how they establish the relation between their LGBTI and youth identities and politics. How do LGBTI youth describe their social and political imaginations? How has the Gezi Park Resistance changed the relationship between LGBTI youth, activism and politics? I believe that we will be able to better understand the political capital and activism practices of LGBTI activist young people in the context of the questions above. In this study, I will try to reveal the concepts, approaches and values that emphasize the theoretical and political aspects of LGBTI youth. Nevertheless, I think that it will be important to investigate the effects of queer theory discussions on the political capital of LGBTI youth. Therefore in this article, which will be produced at the intersection of gender and youth studies, will also benefit from the literature of social movements within the scope of the work of sociologists such as Manuel Castells from the generation and youth literature and especially Pierre Bourdieu's works.