Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, facing a tough re-election battle, has taken aim at the LGBT community during a campaign rally in Istanbul. Branding his opposition as “pro-LGBT,” Erdoğan vowed to “bury” them in the upcoming election.
Emphasizing Family Values
Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies have long held a stance against LGBT rights, with the president stating that they “will never be pro-LGBT because family is sacred to us.” This rhetoric comes as no surprise, as Erdoğan has consistently used anti-LGBTQ+ language throughout his time in office.
A Challenging Election
His main opponent, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been leading in several polls, posing the greatest challenge to Erdoğan’s leadership since he became president in 2014. With presidential and parliamentary elections set for May 14, the president’s anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is intensifying.
A Hostile Environment for the LGBTQ+ Community
Erdoğan has a well-documented history of disdain for the LGBTQ+ community. He has previously referred to queer youth as vandals and his rhetoric has contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey. Many Turkish LGBTQ+ people now live in fear, as senior politicians, religious leaders, and retailers continue to launch attacks on the community.
In September 2022, thousands participated in an anti-LGBTQ+ hate march, with protesters holding signs that read “protecting the family is a national security issue.” As the election approaches, it remains to be seen how this divisive rhetoric will impact the outcome and the lives of Turkey’s LGBTQ+ community.