Yıldız Tar is a journalist, writer, and human rights defender known in Turkey for their work in the fields of LGBTI+ rights, human rights, and independent media. For many years, Yıldız Tar has served as the editor-in-chief of KaosGL.org, Turkey’s only LGBTI+ online newspaper, and of Kaos GL magazine, Turkey’s first and only LGBTI+ rights-focused publication.

Yıldız Tar studied Political Science and International Relations at Boğaziçi University.

Yıldız Tar, rejecting traditional “female” or ‘male’ categories, describes their identity in a humorous and political tone as “an object dancing in the current of those beautiful waters of genderlessness.”

Journalism Career:

Yıldız Tar’s professional journalism career began in 2013, Tar worked across a wide range of media outlets such as:

• Early Years: Yıldız Tar served as an editor at the Etkin News Agency (ETHA) and worked as a reporter, program producer, and host at Özgür Radio.
• Kaos GL Period: Y. Tar joined the KaosGL.org team in 2014. There, Yıldız Tar worked successively as a reporter, editor, and Media and Communications Program Coordinator. Today, Yıldız Tar continues as Editor-in-Chief of KaosGL.org and Kaos GL magazine.
• Journalistic activities at various institutions: Tar produced and hosted the “Odak Ankara” program at Artı TV, which examined current events from a human rights perspective. On T24, Tar conducted portrait interviews in the column titled “Human Landscapes”; their articles have been published in outlets such as Gazete Duvar, Bianet, Artı Gerçek, and İlke TV. Tar continues to host programs related to LGBT+ rights on Açık Radyo and Apaçık Radyo.
• Media Monitoring Studies: Yıldız Tar prepares the annual Media Monitoring Reports for the Kaos GL Association, which examine homophobic and transphobic language and hate speech in mainstream and local media. Tar also writes articles on memory studies, hate speech, and literature for various newspapers, magazines, and digital platforms.

Yıldız Tar has authored or edited key reference books on the intersection of the LGBT+ struggle, politics, and working life in Turkey:

• ‘Comrade, I Am a Queer’: The Left’s Test with LGBT (Ceylan Publications): This influential book examines the perspective of leftist and socialist movements on LGBTI+ rights through the author’s personal experiences and an insider’s critique.
• ‘We Can’t Get Enough of Queers and Trans People Exist’: These are interview collections prepared with contributions from the Kaos GL and Pembe Hayat associations.
• ‘Paths: A Crack in Official History’: One of the works to which Yıldız Tar contributed as an author.
• ‘Discrimination in the Workplace’: As the editor of this book, Yıldız Tar documents the challenges faced by LGBT+ individuals in employment.
• ‘Growing Together’: A book in letter format that shares the stories of fathers whose children are LGBT+.

Yıldız Tar stands out not only as a journalist but also as an active human rights advocate in the civil society sector.

Human rights organizations:

Yıldız Tar is a member of or volunteers for: Yıldız Tar has been a member of the Lambdaistanbul Association since 2009. Between 2009 and 2014, Tar also carried out human rights advocacy activities under the association’s umbrella. Yıldız Tar has also volunteered with LGBT+ rights organizations such as Pembe Hayat, Özgür Renkler, and the 17 May Association; Tar has served on the governing bodies of these organizations in various years. Tar is a member of the Civil Society Development Center (STGM), the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), and the Journalists’ Association.

Legal Pressure:

Due to their reporting, participation in panels, and civil society activities, Yıldız Tar has occasionally faced various legal investigations. Most recently, in February 2025, Yıldız Tar was arrested as part of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) investigation, on the ground of Tar’s journalistic activities and phone calls.

Release:

Following a three-month detention period that drew significant backlash from press organizations and civil society and was deemed a violation of freedom of expression and press freedom, Yıldız Tar was released in May 2025 under conditions of a travel ban and judicial supervision.