Would the leader of Turkey's CHP pin a party rosette on a homosexual?

I could also ask this same question for other identities.

For example;

"Would you organize a ceremony to pin rosettes on women who work in brothels who had decided to join the CHP?"

Or;

"Would you accept those who seek a Kurdish cultural identity, or what is more, federation right for Kurds, into the party?"

* * *

By asking these questions it might be considered that I do so deliberately to criticize Baykal.

On the contrary, I sincerely support his recent political opening out.

Recently he has made some very good moves.

He has taken steps that lift his party from the closed ghetto it has been stuck in for years and has expanded the party's voting base.

In this way, they have made their presence felt at the grass-roots level that the Justice and Development Party, despite all the shortcomings, have been successful in developing.

This political strategy being implemented by the CHP should be wholly supported.

Such a move in this environment, against a prime minister that even considers making a toast with a glass of water to the person sitting at the next table as vile, is very important to the normalization of the political atmosphere.

* * *

I touched on discussion of this issue after carefully reading articles written in the media.

Most of the criticism was fairly standard, it was the same old familiar line and there was nothing new in what they had to say.

For example no one posed this question to Baykal, "You accept women into the party who are fully veiled in black. Will your stance regarding religious symbols also change?"

As far as I know and from what I have seen so far, there is no shift in CHP’s political stance.

I also do not see this change emerging from the general meeting of the party.

What harm is there in veiled women joining the party and pledging their vote to the CHP?

Does the CHP say it will legalize same-sex marriage if gays vote for the party?

No...

Does the CHP say that it would agree to the federation thesis to solve the Kurdish issue if Kurds vote for the party?

No...

So, who is harmed by all segments of society supporting the CHP?

* * *

At this point I want to go one step further.

The CHP should liberalize and make democratic its social project as it expands its voting base.

For example, I sincerely believe that the CHP should be the party that solves the headscarf issue at universities.

This is the only way that a legal solution on this issue could be viewed as a legitimate solution for the whole of society.

I have known Baykal for many years and have seen how deep his religious views, which is more sincere than most members of the AKP.

But he never mixed his religious beliefs with his politics.

In other words, I find it unfair that his recent moves are being assessed as solely as being politically motivated.

The CHP is following a good and just course and it should be encouraged to continue.

* * *

Naturally, I turn to watch the AKP when I see such an opening out of the CHP.

Wouldn't they also consider of opening out to "the other" segments of society?

Don't they desire to be the party representing all of society?

I do hope they do not respond with: "We are already the party representing the whole of society."

They are not.

For my part, I do not think the AKP has ever visited the area that I live in.

I don't feel it, and they don't make us feel it.

Unfortunately, despite all my enthusiasm at the beginning, I no longer feel very confident.

After posing this question to Baykal, I will now ask it of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan:

"Would you pin a party rosette on a homosexual wanting to join the party?"