Istanbul , Turkey ( CNN ) -- Thousands of Turks marched through Istanbul in a demonstration calling for improved rights and greater social acceptance for the country 's homosexual community . Activists say the annual Turkish Gay Pride Parade , now in its ninth year , is the only march of its kind in a majority-Muslim country . Several thousand supporters of lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender rights carried signs and rainbow flags as they made their way down one of Istanbul 's busiest pedestrian thoroughfares . Participants chanted slogans against harassment and blew whistles , waved large rainbow flags and carried signs in Turkish and English that sported messages like `` We 're everywhere , get used to it '' and `` Dance , dance , against homophobia , dance . '' Other signs referenced Ahmet Yildiz , a 26-year-old who was shot to death in Istanbul in 2008 . Yildiz 's father has been accused of traveling almost 600 miles to shoot him in what has been called an `` honor killing . '' According to Yildiz 's partner , Ibo , Yildiz sought protection from prosecutors after receiving threats of violence from his family . His case was featured in an Amnesty International report on the status of gays , lesbians , and transsexuals in Turkey titled `` Not An Illness , Nor A Crime . '' The report says it later emerged that the prosecutor 's office erroneously transferred the complaint to another office and failed to investigate the claims , in what some activists view as the unwillingness of the authorities to confront homophobic violence . Sunday 's march blurred ethnic and religious lines . A group of about 20 Kurdish activists , fleeing police tear gas that was fired at an unrelated nearby political demonstration , were greeted by a round of applause as they joined the colorful crowd . Tear gas from the same demonstration wafted over parts of the crowd , causing the march to stall briefly as people took cover to stave off its effects . Gay rights organizations have accused Turkey 's government of expressing hostile attitudes toward the country 's homosexual community . Activists point to a statement made by Aliye Kavaf , Turkey 's minister for women and family affairs . `` I believe homosexuality is a biological disorder , an illness , and should be treated , '' she said in a 2010 interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet . One parade-goer , who was a part of a tango group moving through the crowd , wore a bright red head scarf with a checkered red , black , and white tie as she danced with her partner . The dancer , who wears a head scarf in daily life , said that Islam and homosexuality are not incongruous . `` Religion is not a fixed thing , '' said Iz , who declined to provide her last name . `` It has been interpreted throughout history , is still being interpreted and it needs to evolve . '' In accession talks with the European Union , Turkey has been gradually improving its record on homosexuality as it makes changes to conform to EU policy on human rights laws . Many marchers on Sunday came out to improve social consciousness of homosexuality . `` The big-bellied , mustached men are looking , trying to figure out what 's going on . They 're learning what a rainbow is , '' said Natalie Aslan , 23 .
Dhaka sees its ninth annual gay pride parade . ` ` We 're everywhere , get used to it , '' the sign read . The parade is the only one of its kind in a majority - Muslim country .