What's the situation of gay/lesbian/bisexual people in Turkey ? Are there still many discrimination problems ?

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istanbul bogazi in the Queendom

There is LAMBDA association in Istanbul which i am a member of. (I am straight but i support them 100 %)
In all the countries there are still people who hide their sexual orientation and the ones who show themselves proudly.
The world still needs more education on being gay.
In Turkey changing the gender is legal since a long long time.

Blunt is totally right by the way in Ottoman times gays were respected members of the society and they were in commercial bussiness, textile bussiness.

devlet_oglu

Being gay is something bad, So gay people should be careful and they must hide thier homo.

Anubis

It could be worse, look at what happens in Armenia, or should we call it "Homosexual Genocide"

http://iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=158819&apc_state=henicrs2001

Alana, one law repealed, due to international pressure and now Armenia, is the leader in gay rights?

Please!

PRINCE STEFOUN III

I suppose things will get better with time in this country...

I know that many people unfortunately feel unconfortable about their sexual orientation there, because of religious pressure.

We Gays are normal people, just let us love whom we want, that's private !!

I already dated a few Turkish guys, and they are so gorgeous !!

.:::Niko:::.

Discrimination is a human (global) issue 'n across time 'n space it arises for similar reasons like sexual preferences,distorted social attitudes, religious convictions, a concern for political or social advantages etc and your question, in Turkey,like any other CIVILIZED countries of the world, people do not hide their sexual preferences on the other hand there ain't nothin' to be "proud" of in being gay,lesbian or bisexual.

hanibal

I think they are ill. Having no train to play at their childhood may couse this illness.

And I will never understand this people.

We have 3.500.000 ladies and man says I 'm a gay. No man , sorry but you are only ill.

What is sexual preferences ?? When you born you can see your sexual choice there. Do you know any gay , lesbian or bisexual animal , bug or plant ?

Mr. Bobo

Yes, discrimination against the gay/lesbian/bisexual & transgender community is not a Turkish problem it is a global problem.

There are pockets of communities in many countries that are tolerant however. There is still so much farther to go.

EU's pressure is really pseudosincere there is still much discriminiation overt and covert in EU's countries.

It is a global issue not a Turkish one.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/category?blogid=15&cat=391

denyocan

most of the people don`t even think of or care about them, so I think the majority is neutral towards the issue. besides who cares with whom you sleep? I personally don`t care. It`s not my business.

\

no problem. come and walk in taksim beyoglu area u will see many .not just gay but transvestites. we have good gay poets singers too. and turksh ppl respect and love them. we are not haters. we dont even ask whats ur sexual preference, and why gay should go and brag about him being gay. who cares. and how can you show if ur gay in daily life? whay do you mean??

Ñ”Ñƒâ„“Ã¼â„“

we are still "trying" to respect them and some of us don't even want to accept them. andt this is not what it is supposed to beÃ§
for me there is nothing wrong with people's sexual preferences no matter what it is. i totally agree with istanbulbogazi. i hope marriage between same sexes will be legal in turkey as well.

daddy cool

it's true alana and ladygop are perverts but this is not thier fault. their racial roots have some sort of genetic deficiency which lead them to act irrationally and in pervert manners.

I hereby invite them to repent and convert to Islam
once they cover their heads, their lovely friend Fethullah Hodja will bless & kiss them in the forehead

Totally Blunt

Believe me, EU's pressure is doing nothing to improve gay rights here. As a matter of fact, we are so sick and tired of this EU's pressure thing that whenever EU starts pressuring us about something, we automatically take a standing FOR that issue. IMHO, EU should pressure Mr.Sarkozy first. That's sweeping your own step before gabbling about others.

And about your question: according to the respected historians, gays and lesbians had an easier life and more acceptance before the modernisation of Turkey. And by modernisation I mean Westernization. With modernity, Western morality entered our social life and guess what, Western morality frowned upon gay people.

As of today, they have NGOs to defend their rights, but they are still discriminated against. You either hide that you are gay or lesbian, or can't get a decent job. That is, if you are not famous already.

We need to go a long way to accept the rights of gays, lesbians and other underpriviliged groups, but you must also be aware that this acceptance comes with prosperity. When you are carrying the burden of 15% unemployment (if I'm not mistaken... and that's only the official number) you can't easily tell people to give jobs to all the underpriviliged people.

Edit: Alanna, you and your kind used the word "gay" repeatedly as an insult. So please show the decency to shut up about gay rights.

Edit: No, lady gop, what is sad is your people's hypocrisy. You feel free to use all values for opportunity. Shall I dig out old answers and show people how you feel about gay people? Maybe you should erase them before I do, hmm?

Edit: And Hanibal, homosexuality exists in nature. Apes use it as a way to socialize. And don't get me started about adult dogs raping puppies, regardless of gender. Unpleasant, but true.

Abby lane

What I think is really sad is Alana is 100% on the mark and no one I believe with any common decency is using these facts as insults.

Most people are generaly concerned about such severe neglect in Turkey's discrimitation laws.

I have read many Turkish advocacy reports that constantly are reporting violence and haressment of the advocates in Turkey fighting for the improvement of the laws.

It is most defintly not safe for the gay rights activists so I ask you how can it possiable be safe for gay people?

FYI- It is not an insult in the USA to refer to people who prefer their own gender sexually as gay but apparently it is in Turkey.

EDIT: Please do blunt, it would be a pleasure not just for myself but for all to see how sincere your words really are.

A bit of advice: Insults and racial slurs are signs of digression. Move forward not backward.

Have a good day

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