In a recent visit to the United Nations’ New York City headquarters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his discontent regarding the presence of what he referred to as “LGBT colors” at the UN General Assembly. However, these vibrant decorations were not intended to symbolize the LGBTQ+ community; instead, they were part of the promotion for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global initiative aimed at combating hunger, poverty, and climate change by 2030.
Erdoğan voiced his concerns, stating, “One of the issues that bothers me the most… is that when entering the United Nations General Assembly, you see the LGBT colors on steps and other places. How many LGBT are there in the world right now? However much right they have on these steps, those against LGBT have as much right as well.”
LGBTQ+ Rights in Turkey Amid Growing Concerns
Homosexuality technically remains legal in Turkey, but LGBTQ+ individuals have faced harassment by law enforcement under the pretext of laws prohibiting “public exhibitionism” and “offenses against public morality.” Under Erdoğan’s leadership, Turkey’s government has increasingly demonstrated authoritarian tendencies and a hostile stance toward LGBTQ+ rights, with instances such as the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the annual Istanbul Pride parade.
Additionally, Turkey has collaborated with the video-sharing app TikTok to restrict LGBTQ+ and other political content within the country. TikTok’s censorship rules included a specific section devoted to censoring depictions of homosexuality, going beyond legal requirements.
Controversial Actions Under Erdoğan’s Rule
Erdoğan’s administration has faced criticism for its controversial actions related to LGBTQ+ rights. In 2021, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, an agreement among 45 countries aimed at enhancing women’s protection from violence. Erdoğan argued that the convention had been “hijacked” by groups promoting homosexuality.
Furthermore, Erdoğan publicly supported the head of the Turkish government’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbas, who labeled homosexuality as “evil” and claimed it “brings illnesses and corrupts generations” in April 2020.
During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Turkish government even ordered schools to cease displaying children’s rainbow drawings in windows, alleging that it was part of an international conspiracy to “turn children gay.” These actions reflect the growing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey under President Erdoğan’s leadership.
As Turkey grapples with these issues, concerns about LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination remain at the forefront of the international human rights discourse.