Gay visitors to Turkey will be treated no differently. This is because there is a long tradition of Turkish hospitality and because it’s good for business. What applies to Turks does not necessarily extend to foreigners.Īll visitors receive a warm welcome, regardless. Most Turks do not acknowledge its existence. While male homosexual behaviour is understood (though not condoned), lesbianism has simply not entered the Turkish psyche. This neatly reflects the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ social consensus. Homosexuality is not mentioned in the Turkish Legal Code so is neither protected nor persecuted. Any public dissent from the norm is generally frowned upon. On the whole, Turkish society is paternalistic, family-centred and traditional. The Turkish attitude towards open homosexuality is ambivalent, to say the least. There’s something for everyone – for the cultured, the curious, the adventurous and the lazy. Turkey is a land for all seasons, whether you fancy dipping your toes in the warm Aegean, tumbling over ancient stones, hiking past towering peaks, shooting the rapids or gazing up in awe at the dome of Aya Sofya. He talks about his experiences of the gay scene, and also gives advice on where to go and what to expect.
Today’s post is by Jack Scott, a published author who has lived and traveled around Turkey with his partner Liam.