Being LGBTI in Turkey: A Social Structure-Based Appraisal

Today, at least in the West, LGBTI people can be said to no longer face allegations of perversion inacademic and scientific discourse. However, in Turkey, the human-rights situation of homosexualsremains somewhat below what could be accepted as the ideal level. First and foremost, homosexualityis not defined as a legal identity in the sphere of the individual’s own personal freedom and privacy.Families do not stop at not wanting to accept that their children are homosexual; they also fight againstit, routinely forcing their LGBTI children to become heterosexual through treatment or pressure. As forcivil service, compulsory military service and the prison system, homosexuals are subject to majorabuses of their basic human rights and even their rights as citizens, stemming from the attitude of thestate. In Turkey, the pervasive influence of patriarchy and Islam on social life is especially significant inunderstanding the difficulties in the lives of LGBTI individuals. This study aims to identify the problems faced by LGBTI individuals, to determine the source of these problems, taking into accountthe dynamics specific to Turkey, and to propose solutions to these problems.

Seher Cesur Kılıçaslan & Toprak Işık

International Journal of Arts and Sciences Conference. Harvard University, Boston, USA, 26th–30th May 2015.

Poverty and the Fight Against Poverty in Turkey. International Conference for Academic Disciplines, 9(2), 65-70, 2016