‘Being gay is not illegal in Turkey — but we are targeted every day’
Source:The Times Date:17Jun2023
The hate is coming from the top. Erdogan repeatedly targeted LBGT people before May’s elections, accusing them of terrorism and of destroying the traditional family. He used his first victory speech to lash out at them again. Homophobia plays well with his ultra-conservative Islamic base and raises little protest in the rest of the country, although some opposition parties have paid lip service to protecting gay rights.
The rhetoric has consequences: openly gay and transgender people are regularly attacked and on occasion murdered, and receive little protection from the police and courts. Suicides and self-harm are common among LGBT people, and with few other employment options many are forced into sex work.