Istanbul governor cancels LGBT parade for second year in a row: report

An LGBT pride parade in Istanbul has been from taking place for the second year in a row, Reuters reported Saturday.

The decision by Istanbul’s governor to call of the parade came amid threats by the ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearths group to block the parade unless authorities banned it.

According to Reuters, the governor’s office said the decision was made out of concern for public safety, including the safety of the marchers themselves.

{mosads}

March organizers are urging the governor to allow the parade to continue as planned, arguing that by blocking the event he was legitimizing and validating hate groups, like Alperen Hearths, Reuters reported.

Homosexuality is not criminalized in Turkey, though homophobia is pervasive. Istanbul is considered relatively safe for LGBT people.

The parade was broken up two years ago by police, after organizers moved forward with the event despite being denied permission.