content tagged with lgbti+s

Turkish Medical Association condemns targeting of health groups in anti-LGBTI+ operations

Turkish Medical Association condemns targeting of health groups in anti-LGBTI+ operations

Social media accounts of the Psychiatric Association of Turkey and the Sexual Education, Treatment and Research Association were among 400 accounts and web sites blocked as part of the "My Family Is Safe" operations.

Detained queer rights advocate sends message from prison: ‘This is a badge of honor’

Detained queer rights advocate sends message from prison: ‘This is a badge of honor’

"I know this won’t be the first or the last price I pay for this struggle. Like the others, I bear this price as a badge of honor," said Selin Berghan.

18 September 2026

İrfan Kovankaya

How Turkey’s vague obscenity law is becoming a tool to criminalize LGBTI+ visibility

How Turkey’s vague obscenity law is becoming a tool to criminalize LGBTI+ visibility

The obscenity law historically applied to pornographic content. Recently, judicial authorities have accused almost anything related to the LGBTI+ community of being obscene, ranging from verbal statements and photos to song lyrics.

18 September 2026 Irfan Kovankaya

Over 80 formally arrested in anti-LGBTI+ crackdown as ministry orders action over ‘desexualization’

Over 80 formally arrested in anti-LGBTI+ crackdown as ministry orders action over ‘desexualization’

The ministry ordered prosecutors to take action against “activities encouraging children and young people toward desexualization.”

17 September 2026

Anti-LGBTI+ crackdown: Detention extended for 109 protesters amid ill-treatment allegations

Anti-LGBTI+ crackdown: Detention extended for 109 protesters amid ill-treatment allegations

During detention procedures, police attempted to remove detainees' allegations of torture from their statements, a lawyer said.

16 September 2026 Ferhat Yaşar

Dozens detained outside İstanbul Courthouse while protesting LGBTI+ arrests

Dozens detained outside İstanbul Courthouse while protesting LGBTI+ arrests

Two reporters were among the detained as a crowd protested the Sep 13 anti-LGBTI+ raids.

15 September 2026

Journalist Tuğba Tekerek detained over interview with Georgian LGBTI+ activist

Journalist Tuğba Tekerek detained over interview with Georgian LGBTI+ activist

Tekerek's interview was published by Kaos GL, executives of which were taken into custody on "obscenity" charges during the sweeping anti-LGBTI+ raids on Sep 13.

15 September 2026

Lawyer says private messages cited as 'obscenity' evidence against detained LGBTI+s

Lawyer says private messages cited as 'obscenity' evidence against detained LGBTI+s

Police allegedly obtained the detained individuals' phone passwords without a court order and then added messages and photos in the phones to the investigation file as evidence.

15 September 2026

'This operation declares that the Turkish state considers LGBTI+s criminals for simply existing'

'This operation declares that the Turkish state considers LGBTI+s criminals for simply existing'

Journalist and LGBTI+ activist Yıldız Tar reflected on the recent crackdown on the queer community.

14 September 2026 Nalin Öztekin

Turkey's LGBTI+ crackdown draws condemnation from rights groups, politicians

Turkey's LGBTI+ crackdown draws condemnation from rights groups, politicians

"No one's family is under threat; we are the ones under threat."

14 September 2026

Police raids, online censorship target Turkey’s LGBTI+ community in new crackdown

Police raids, online censorship target Turkey’s LGBTI+ community in new crackdown

Police raided LGBTI+ associations' offices and gay bars in İstanbul and Ankara. Access to numerous websites and social media accounts has been blocked.

13 September 2026

Health Ministry cites ‘family values’ for hormone therapy access restrictions

Health Ministry cites ‘family values’ for hormone therapy access restrictions

The ministry has been restricting access to hormone therapy through directives and de facto practices.

11 September 2026

Trans actor Meli Bendeli jailed in ‘obscenity’ probe over social media posts

Trans actor Meli Bendeli jailed in ‘obscenity’ probe over social media posts

“I have to make my living from social media because I am not given work due to my gender identity,” Bendeli told investigators, while LGBTI+ groups call out broader policies targeting queer visibility.

8 September 2026

Popular LGBTI+ Sixties pub shut down in Ankara

Popular LGBTI+ Sixties pub shut down in Ankara

Sixties Pub, a popular bar frequented by the LGBTI+ community in Ankara’s Çankaya district has shut down following an investigation and closure decision. Seven people were detained in a police raid on the establishment in July.

Seven arrested in Ankara ‘gay bar’ probe

Seven arrested in Ankara ‘gay bar’ probe

Prosecutors alleged that the venue hosted sexually explicit entertainment and activities that violated “public morality.”

Couriers mourn trans delivery worker killed on the job

Couriers mourn trans delivery worker killed on the job

Merve Yılmazelli was killed after a weaving driver hit her motorcycle.

Tuğçe Yılmaz

İstanbul trans teacher dismissed after hate campaign: 'I knew this might happen one day'

İstanbul trans teacher dismissed after hate campaign: 'I knew this might happen one day'

Zoe Lila had been teaching at the same school for five years when a pro-government media campaign targeted her gender affirmation process. She is now launching a legal battle to defend her right to work and privacy.

11 July 2026 Tuğçe Yılmaz

LGBTI+ rights group's Instagram account banned as censorship continues during Pride Month

LGBTI+ rights group's Instagram account banned as censorship continues during Pride Month

Kaos GL and several Pride accounts have been made invisible in Turkey.

One of İstanbul's oldest gay bars shut down after invitation to 'gay cruise' passengers

One of İstanbul's oldest gay bars shut down after invitation to 'gay cruise' passengers

The invitation was framed as an "audacious event" in the pro-government media.

LGBTI+ groups condemn mass detentions in Ankara ahead of NATO summit

LGBTI+ groups condemn mass detentions in Ankara ahead of NATO summit

"Being a journalist, lawyer, or academic is not a crime. LGBTI+ rights advocacy is not a crime," said a joint statement.

Turkey bans access to LGBTI+ groups' social media accounts

Turkey bans access to LGBTI+ groups' social media accounts

More LGBTI+ social media accounts have been blocked in Turkey amid Pride Month.

Trans activists pop up in Kadıköy after decoy parade draws police to Taksim

Trans activists pop up in Kadıköy after decoy parade draws police to Taksim

Activists managed to hold the gathering but were surrounded by police shortly afterward. Police detained several activists and two journalists covering the event.

Anti-LGBTI+ amendments removed from draft judicial package

Anti-LGBTI+ amendments removed from draft judicial package

The package excludes provisions that could effectively criminalize LGBTI+ activists.

Queer social media personality Mükremin Gezgin’s Instagram account banned in Turkey

Queer social media personality Mükremin Gezgin’s Instagram account banned in Turkey

Gezgin spent four months in pretrial detention before being released a week ago.

Over 200 NGOs and rights groups raise concern over planned anti-LGBTI+ legislation

Over 200 NGOs and rights groups raise concern over planned anti-LGBTI+ legislation

"While the 12th Judicial Package targets the rights of women, LGBTI+s, and children in particular, it institutionalizes digital surveillance pressure on the entire society."

Tuğçe Yılmaz

'Persistence defines the struggle of trans movement in Turkey'

'Persistence defines the struggle of trans movement in Turkey'

"Insisting on the world we want to live in isn’t just about marching; it’s about continuing the struggle to defend the right to exist, visibility, and life itself. That’s why we persist," says Ahmet Soykarcı, a member of the İstanbul Trans Pride Week Committee.

7 June 2026 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Hornet launches visibility program for LGBTI+s in Turkey

Hornet launches visibility program for LGBTI+s in Turkey

The program aims to bring the stories, experiences, and creativity of queer people to a wider audience.

Pride picnic blocked at Ege University

Pride picnic blocked at Ege University

A human rights group called on law enforcement and private security units to "abandon violence, detention threats, physical blockades, and discriminatory practices."

Tuğçe Yılmaz

Feminists and LGBTI+s attend İstanbul Newroz celebrations

Feminists and LGBTI+s attend İstanbul Newroz celebrations

LGBTI+s joined the celebrations accompanied by a security circle formed by DEM Party staff in response to attempted attacks at the venue.

23 March 2026 Tuğçe Yılmaz

New collective formed to defend trans people's right to hormone access

New collective formed to defend trans people's right to hormone access

“Hormone access is not merely a healthcare issue. It is a fundamental human right,” the group said in its statement.

Yekta Armanc Hatipoğlu

‘Fear will not isolate us, it will lead us to build stronger solidarity’

ANTI-LGBTI+ LAW PROPOSAL

‘Fear will not isolate us, it will lead us to build stronger solidarity’

LGBTI+ rights advocates shared their thoughts following reports of a revived law proposal that would criminalize queer activism and restrict gender reassigment therapy.

20 February 2026 Yekta Armanc Hatipoğlu

Report: Government revives draft bill criminalizing LGBTI+s

Report: Government revives draft bill criminalizing LGBTI+s

LGBTI+ groups condemned the reported bill, saying that "we will resist any possible hate law together."

18 February 2026

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