Lambdaistanbul (The Homosexual Non-Governmental Initiative) will, for the first time in Turkey, conduct a survey about violence and discrimination against homosexuals and compile the results in a book.

Serdar Soydan from Lambdaistanbul said homosexuals will be responsible for all stages of the project, from preparing the questions to interpreting statistics.

"We are facing many social problems," said Soydan, "But there are no statistical data to prove this. Academics sometimes publish data but we find those to be partial".

The survey to be conducted face-to-face among 400 people in Istanbul, will take two months.

"Have your voice heard"

Lambdaistanbul is calling on people to participate in the survey to help reflect the enormity of the problems to the society:

"Let's have our voices heard by answering questions on the 'violence and problems we face,' survey. Let the outcome of the survey be our evidence. Let the society know about our problems. We are having our voices heard. Speak up!"

The following are the information Lambdaistanbul gave about the research:* The survey will be conducted face-to-face by gay, lesbian and bisexual Lambdaistanbul members.

* Women will conduct the survey among women, and men among men.

* The survey will take an hour on the average.

* All information gathered during the survey will only remain on paper and there will be no release of identity.

Those who would like to participate in the survey may contact Lambdaistanbul by calling their offices or sending them an e-mail. (TK/EA/YE)