The LGBTIQ+ working group, which brings together physicians, LGBTIQ+ rights defenders and health rights defenders within the Turkish Medical Association, held its first meeting.

The LGBTIQ+ working group was established within the Turkish Medical Association, aiming to provide easier, inclusive and equitable access to health services for LGBTIQ+ people. The group held its first meeting on Monday, March 11 at the TMA headquarters. In addition to physicians, the working group also includes LGBTIQ+ rights defenders and health rights defenders.

In the first meeting, it was decided to write a text of principles and guidelines in accordance with the legislation before starting the work. The principles part of this text will be written by medical students and activists working for the association based on universal human rights, while the legislative compliance and directive part will be written by the physicians in the working group. Then the executive board of the group will be formed.

The LGBTIQ+ working group is planning many workshops, workshops, film screenings and interdisciplinary dialog activities in this field. In terms of both the history of the TMA and the history of Turkish medicine, the new working group is thought to be unprecedented in such a comprehensive way. The group is groundbreaking not only by including the LGBTIQ+ movement, but also by including non-professional subjects in health studies for the first time.