Turkey Rolls Back Major LGBTQ Rights…It’s A Loss For Queer Folk

Turkey Rolls Back Major LGBTQ Rights...It's A Loss For Queer Folk

We know that here in the US, LGBTQ rights aren't having the best time. Well, it is like a domino affect and many other nations are following suit. In a major blow to queer folk in Turkey, the nation has begun a series of roll back on LGBTQ rights that are pretty drastic and upsetting.

Currently, same relations are legal, but gay marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships for queer folk are not. The country also bans same sex couples from adopting children. Not known to be an advanced country when it comes to queer rights, there is a travel warning for LGBTQ folk and Turkey has earned scored five out of a possible 100 on ILGA-Europe’s 2024 rainbow map. Yikes. If that weren't enough, there is a new bill that will be submitted to Parliament that will make things even worse for LGBTQ citizens.

There are no protections for queer folk in the nation in regards to discrimination laws at the workplace, in health care, for housing, and in education.

Regarding the trans community, the age for gender-affirming care would go from 18 years to 25 years-old. Also, trans folks will be prohibited from being married, will be sterlized, and can only be treated as an effect of mental health. Anyone who tries to offer trans person medical service illegaly will be open to a prison sentence of 3 to 7 years.

For same sex folk, if anyone tries to have a private wedding ceremony, they will be subject to a prison sentence of 1 year 6 months to four years. If anyone is caught having same sex physical activity in public spaces, that prison sentence will increase to three years from 6 months. No more cruising!

Over the past few years, Turkey has already behaved aggressive towards the LGBTQ community by panning prides and imprisoning a large number of crowds who protested the bans. It all trickles down from the nation's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who considers the queer community a threat to traditional family life.

2025 was declared the Year of the Family in Turkey, celebrating traditional family life while attacking the LGBTQ community. Queer folk are considered perverse by Turkey's leadership. Any protests are quickly shut down with the threat of prison. Islam is the main religion of the nation, which is extremely conservative. The current government is increasing a return to conservative ideals, even though the youth seem to have a lot to say.

Who knows how this war on the LGBTQ community go? Will there be a breaking point?

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