Turkey is a secular country, and homosexual relationships and other types of LBGTQI+ relationships are not against the rule. As in every country throughout history, Turkey has LBGTQ communities that make their contributions to the richness and variety of culture and community. However, it is important to notice that it is also a Muslim-majority country, which affects society's perspectives on same-sex relationships and public affection.
This complex relationship between secular governance and having a Muslim majority population makes traveling in Turkey as an LGBTQ+ person difficult. So, what is the situation like for LGBTQ visitors who hope to travel to Turkey? It is complicated.
State of Homosexual in Turkey
While progress is being made toward understanding and mutual acceptance, especially with anti-discrimination laws, the majority of people in Turkey are relatively conservative and want male-female relationships to be the only ones sanctioned by community. Other relationships live, of course, as they always have.
Turkey has made progress, with more and more openly lgbtq+ celebrities, gay bars, and gay clubs, along with a number of more gay-friendly ho
Survey results from 11 Gay Equaldex users who lived in or visited Istanbul.
Perceived Safety*
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Treatment by general public
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups
Visibility & Representation
Representation in entertainment
Culture
Interest groups and clubs
Services
Support and social services
History
Right to change legal gender in Istanbul
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Right to change legal gender in Istanbul is legal, but requires surgery.
Gender-affirming care in Istanbul
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Gender-affirming look after in Istanbul is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Legal, but banned for minors
In June of 2025, the Turkish government banned hormone therapy for under-21-year-olds. The government cited its campaign to make 2025 the "year of the family" as well as a constitutional duty to protect the traditional family as its reasoning for the ban.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Istanbul
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender i
Recent studies in Turkey show a discernible level of rivalry to LGBTQ+ rights among the population.
Survey results from 35 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Turkey.
Perceived Safety*
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Treatment by general public
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups
Visibility & Representation
Representation in entertainment
Culture
Interest groups and clubs
Services
Support and social services
History
Right to alter legal gender in Turkey
?
Right to convert legal gender in Turkey is legal, but requires surgery.
Gender-affirming care in Turkey
?
Gender-affirming care in Turkey is legal, but banned for minors.
Current status
Legal, but banned for minors
In June of 2025, the Turkish government banned hormone therapy for under-21-year-olds. The government cited its campaign to make 2025 the "year of the family" as well as a constitutional duty to protect the traditional family as its reasoning for the ban.
Turkey: Police detain dozens at banned LGBTQ+ Pride parade
Police in Istanbul on Sunday blocked attempts to clutch a banned LGBTQ+ Self-acceptance demonstration, detaining more than 50 people who tried to march, according to activists and an contradiction politician.
Istanbul Pride has been banned annually by Turkish authorities since 2015, including this year.
The governor of Istanbul had earlier banned the LGBTQ+ community from holding a Pride Pride, saying it "undermines social harmony, family structure, and moral values."
A strong police presence in key areas of the city prevented huge gatherings. Officers were seen clashing with activists holding rainbow flags in the city center.
Crackdown on Gay community in Turkey
"The palace regime cannot maintain influence by demonizing the LGBTQ community," Kezban Konukcu, a lawmaker from the opposition DEM Party who attended the march, said.
Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted an increasingly harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community over the past decade.
In January, Erdogan declared 2025 the "Year of the Family," characterizing Turkey's declining birth rate
Rainbow Map
2025 rainbow map
These are the main findings for the 2025 edition of the rainbow map
The Rainbow Map ranks 49 European countries on their respective legal and policy practices for LGBTI people, from 0-100%.
The UK has dropped six places in ILGA-Europe’s Rainbow Map, as Hungary and Georgia also register steep falls following anti-LGBTI legislation. The data highlights how rollbacks on LGBTI human rights are part of a broader erosion of democratic protections across Europe. Read more in our press release.
“Moves in the UK, Hungary, Georgia and beyond signal not just isolated regressions, but a coordinated global backlash aimed at erasing LGBTI rights, cynically framed as the defence of tradition or public stability, but in reality designed to entrench discrimination and suppress dissent.”
Katrin Hugendubel, Advocacy Director, ILGA-Europe
Malta has sat on top of the ranking for the last 10 years.
With 85 points, Belgium jumped to second place after adopting policies tackling hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
Iceland now comes third place on the ranking with a score of 84.
