💬 NEW! Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!
 ▸  Europe

    Homosexuality
    ⚢
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ⚭
    ✖ Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
    Censorship
    ✖ State-enforced
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, surgery not required
    Non-binary gender recognition
    Unknown
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    N/A
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

Ranked #25 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(25%) Against
Support (43%)

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

Ranked #23 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(44%) Disagree
Agree (39%)

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors

Ranked #70 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "On this list are various groups of people. Could you please mention any that you would not like to have as neighbors?"

(75.8%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (20.7%)

Justifiability of homosexuality

Ranked #61 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Please tell me for each of the following statements whether you think it can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between."

(78.1%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (5.2%)

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents

Ranked #49 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)

Question: "Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples"

(54.1%) Disagree
Agree (16.6%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)

Ranked #27 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(57%) No
Yes (25%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)

Ranked #27 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(78%) No
Yes (9%)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

Ranked #79 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)

Question: "Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place for homosexuals?"

(68%) Not a good place
Good place (11%)

By The Numbers

11.2%
of Turkish people think homosexuality should not be a criminal act
(Konda, 2012)
84%
of Turkish people do not want to live with LGBT neighbors
(World Values Survey, 2011)

History

Homosexual activity in Turkey

?

Homosexual activity in Turkey is legal.

Current status
Since 1858
Legal
The Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of Turkey, decriminalized sodomy in 1858.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
theguardian.com/commentisfr…
bbc.com/news/world-25927595
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Turkey

?

Same-sex marriage in Turkey is unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned.

Current status
Since Oct 29, 1923
Unrecognized, same-sex marriage and civil unions banned
Only heterosexual marriages are legal.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ilga-europe.org/home/guide_…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  7 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Oct 29, 1923–Sep 8, 2018
Foreign same-sex marriages recognized only
Civil Unions pending. Required legalization as part of the EU. under review by a Turkish high court to see if spouses are entitled for visas. Foreign Same sex marriage legal under EU High Court Ruling.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
t.co/m1oCNOg5WL
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Turkey

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Turkey is state-enforced.

Current status
State-enforced
Turkey has blocked gay dating sites, as well as banning pride parades. They have labeled rainbow products and pride items 18+, along with programs that include the LGBTQ community.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ilga.org/wp-content/uploads…
hrw.org/news/2019/02/14/tur…
Added by equaldex  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Turkey

?

Right to change legal gender in Turkey is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
Since 2017
Legal, surgery not required
Surgery is not required for gender changes in Turkey.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
transgenderfeed.com/2017/12…
Added by vviet93  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

May 10, 2015–Sep 2, 2018
Legal, but requires surgery
Requires surgery and Sterilization. Ruled illegal under the EU. Missing non binary options on documents.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
nationalgeographic.com/maga…


tgeu.org/wp-content/uploads…



journals.sagepub.com/doi/ab…
Added by Ausyk  ·  4 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Until May 10, 2015
Ambiguous
It is unclear if transgender Turks are permitted to change their legal gender identity. Trangender women face a lot of societal barriers including transphobic violence leading me to believe that the Turkish government does not permit transgender individua
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
amnesty.org/en/library/asse…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Turkey

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Turkey is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Turkey

?

LGBT discrimination in Turkey is no protections.

Current status
Since 1858
No protections
There are not any protections for LGBT Turks. There is not any information about when this policy started.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pd…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Turkey

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Turkey is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No laws
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/2017/ILG…
Added by Ausyk  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Turkey

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Turkey is no protections.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1858
No protections
Proposed for full protections. Intenese Disrimination.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
listverse.com/2013/12/30/10…


ilga.org/downloads/2017/ILG…
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Turkey

?

Same-sex adoption in Turkey is single only.

Current status
Single only
LGBT Turks are deemed unfit to be parents however, it is unclear if there is legislation to support this. It is also unclear when this policy began. However, same-sex adoptions are not permitted in Turkey; Turkish authorities have attempted to reclaim Turkish children adopted into foreign countries by same-sex couples.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
dot429.com/articles/1468-tu…

Moderator note: second (and originally the only) source has been found broken while addressing a flag. If better source is found, please report!

southfloridagaynews.com/art…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  3 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Jan 1, 2015–Sep 8, 2018
Single only
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Added by Ausyk  ·  4 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Turkey

?

Serving openly in military in Turkey is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
Security personal found to be homosexual are dismissed under laws that classify homosexuality as a "psychosexual disorder/illness".
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ec.europa.eu/neighbourhood-…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Turkey

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Turkey is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Since 1980
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
amnesty.org/en/library/asse…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  2 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Turkey

?

Conversion therapy in Turkey is n/a.

Current status
Since Dec 23, 2017
N/A
Some people don't practice.
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/2017/ILG…
Added by Ausyk  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Turkey

?

Equal age of consent in Turkey is equal.

Current status
Since 1858
Equal
Details  ·  Accurate? Yes No
Sources:
amnesty.org/en/library/asse…
Added by bradcoffey106  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
37 / 100
Legal Rights
53 / 100
Public Opinion
21 / 100
#16
Interest Rank ?

Top Contributors

Discussions

2 Users live in Turkey

turkiye_lgbti_birligi
emrebilgili

Turkey LGBT Organizations

Suggest an organization

Share Topic

Map of Turkey
LGBT Turkey Flag
LGBT Turkey Flag

Compare Turkey

Armenia Flag

Compare with
Armenia

Azerbaijan Flag

Compare with
Azerbaijan

Bahrain Flag

Compare with
Bahrain

Cyprus Flag

Compare with
Cyprus

Georgia Flag

Compare with
Georgia

Iraq Flag

Compare with
Iraq

Israel Flag

Compare with
Israel

Jordan Flag

Compare with
Jordan

Common queries:
  • Is it illegal to be gay in Turkey?
  • Is homosexuality legal in Turkey?
  • Is gay marriage legal in Turkey?
Alternative names: Türkiye (local name)

LGBT Rights in Middle East

Armenia Flag

LGBT Rights in
Armenia

Azerbaijan Flag

LGBT Rights in
Azerbaijan

Bahrain Flag

LGBT Rights in
Bahrain

Cyprus Flag

LGBT Rights in
Cyprus

Georgia Flag

LGBT Rights in
Georgia

Iraq Flag

LGBT Rights in
Iraq

Israel Flag

LGBT Rights in
Israel

Jordan Flag

LGBT Rights in
Jordan

Kuwait Flag

LGBT Rights in
Kuwait

Oman Flag

LGBT Rights in
Oman

Palestine Flag

LGBT Rights in
Palestine

Qatar Flag

LGBT Rights in
Qatar

Saudi Arabia Flag

LGBT Rights in
Saudi Arabia

Syria Flag

LGBT Rights in
Syria

United Arab Emirates Flag

LGBT Rights in
United Arab Emirates

Yemen Flag

LGBT Rights in
Yemen