Egypt follows Turkey in denying LGBTQ+ cruise access to port over ‘misaligned moral values’

An LGBTQ+ cruise ship carrying approximately 2,000 passengers was denied entry into Egypt's waters this past Thursday, reportedly due to a "misalignment of moral values." The Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events, was rerouted to Alexandria, Egypt, after initially being blocked from docking in Turkey the previous week.

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It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group.

Turkish authorities stated the cruise was chartered by "groups known for behaviors that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values." Passengers were informed of Egypt's denial of entry via a note under their cabin doors, causing surprise and disappointment. Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, expressed his shock, noting that a similar itinerary had sailed without issue the previous year.

Campbell described the situation as "stunning" and "concerning," particularly the reasoning behind the denial, which explicitly identified the group as gay. He questioned the practice of countries selectively choosing which tourists are allowed entry. While same-sex relations are technically legal in both Turkey and Egypt, LGBT individuals have faced increasing discrimination and criminalization in recent years.

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I know how much this visit meant to so many of you. We successfully sailed a similar itinerary last year without issue. So we were surprised by this unfortunate decision.

The cruise, which originated from Athens and was en route to Venice, faced its first disruption when Turkey refused docking. The subsequent denial by Egypt further complicated the journey, leaving passengers seeking alternative ports. The incident highlights ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in accessing public spaces and services in some regions.

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It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not.