Turkish clothing chain LC Waikiki has banned symbols linked to the LGBT+ community on its products.
In an email sent to a group of company employees under the subject line “Design bans”, LC Waikiki’s administration shared a list of LGBT+ symbols, such as rainbows, unicorns and figures resembling people from the LGBT+ community, that “should never be used”, according to Turkey’s Sol Newspaper.
The newspaper cited the administration’s justification behind the ban, saying it was disturbed by LGBT+ visibility generated by recent Pride Week events.
Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, however its LGBT+ community has faced considerable hostility under Turkish President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party.
Turkish authorities have banned pride celebrations in the past few years citing “security concerns”.