Gay türk
Going to Turkey? Here’s every LGBTQ traveller needs to know
Turkey is a pleasant country in Western Asia that many travellers stop by for its beautiful beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and historic cities. It is a fairly conservative country, which is reflected in its attitudes towards LGBTQ people. For gay travellers in Turkey, there are shelter concerns to be mindful of when it comes to public expression, both in the cities and in rural areas. But don’t let that terminate you from exploring the country and visiting its vibrant LGBTQ communities.
Safer homosexual travel in Turkey
To be clear, Turkey does not outlaw being gay. In fact, it has been legal since the founding of modern Turkey in 1923. However, general bans on “offences against general morality” are often used against LGBTQ expression. Even heterosexual couples are advised not to publicly exhibit their affection, and LGBTQ couples are advised to be extra careful. LGBTQ people are not protected by anti-discrimination laws, and a general rule of thumb of “don’t question, don’t tell” is the safest way to tour the country outside of LGBTQ-specific areas.
Gay dating apps
Grindr is banned i
Proving you're gay to the Turkish army
Some people in Turkey say with resentment that gay men are actually lucky, as at least they have one possible route out of military service - they don't have to pay months in the barracks, or face the possibility of being deployed to fight against Kurdish militants.
But for openly gay men, life can be far from easy.
It is not uncommon for employers in Turkey to question career applicants about their military service - and a pink certificate can signify a job rejection.
One of Gokhan's employers found out about it not by asking Gokhan himself but by asking the army.
After that, he says, he was bullied. His co-workers made derogatory comments as he walked past, others refused to talk to him.
''But I am not ashamed. It is not my shame," he says.
Ahmet is still waiting for his case to be resolved. The army has postponed its decision on his pink certificate for another year.
Ahmet thinks it is because he refused to appear before them in woman's clothes. And he doesn't know what to expect when he appears in front of them again.
Could he not just do his military service and keep his homosexuality a secr
Turkish capital Ankara bans all gay rights functions
The announcement is likely to amplify concern among gay activists in Turkey that their rights are being curtailed under the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), which is rooted in conservative Islam.
Gay activists says they have been subjected to various forms of discrimination including harassment, abuse and rape.
The popular annual male lover pride rally in Istanbul has been blocked for three years by the authorities, who cited security concerns. In 2003 Turkey became the first Muslim majority country to let a gay pride march.
The perceived erosion of civil liberties in Turkey has caused concern in the West following the failed military coup of July 2016.
More than 50,000 people have been jailed since then, many accused of having links to the plotters. About 150,000 people mostly working for the government have been sacked or suspended.
In a statement announcing the German film ban last week, the office of Ankara Governor Mehmet Kılıclar said the festival's content "could incite grudges and enmity toward a part of society".
Intelligence suggested that &
‘We’re against LGBT’: Erdoğan targets gay and trans people ahead of critical Turkish election
At campaign rallies across Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has missed no opportunity to assault gay and trans people. “We are against the LGBT,” he told one rally near the Jet Sea. “Family is consecrated to us – a strong family means a strong nation.”
At another rally earlier this month, Erdoğan accused every party in Turkey’s opposition coalition of being LGBT.
When Turkish voters go to the polls in parliamentary and presidential elections on 14 May, LGBTQ+ rights as successfully as women’s rights will be on the ballot. Erdoğan has withdrawn Turkey from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul convention on violence against women and pushed a conservative vision of family values while attacking groups that defend women and queer rights.
For many Turkish women and the LGBTQ+ community, the forthcoming vote represents a stark choice. They utter Erdoğan’s re-election risks further fuelling a culture war that he and his supporters have done much to inflame, empowering institutions to crack down on anyone seen as diverse and to turn a blind eye to a statewide problem of aggression against women, gay
.