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Turkey denies entry to LGBTQ+ cruise ship, sparking outrage
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Culture & Society

Turkey denies entry to LGBTQ+ cruise ship, sparking outrage

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers was denied entry into Turkey due to local authorities citing the passengers' behavior as not aligning with societal structure and moral values.
  • The decision by Turkish officials in the Aidฤฑn province sparked outrage among passengers and performers, with one artist calling the situation infuriating.
  • This marks the first time in 36 years that an Atlantis Events cruise ship has been explicitly denied docking in Turkey, despite previous successful visits.

A Virgin Voyages cruise ship, the "Scarlet Lady," carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers, was denied entry into Turkey on July 7. Local authorities in Turkey's Aidฤฑn province stated that the passengers' behavior did not align with the country's societal structure and moral values.

The decision caused significant backlash. "The Guardian" reported that the cruise, advertised as an "epic gay journey," was scheduled to dock in KuลŸadasฤฑ and Istanbul. However, provincial authorities declared the cancellation, asserting, "There is absolutely no possibility for the aforementioned group to visit our province."

There is absolutely no possibility for the aforementioned group to visit our province.

โ€” Aidฤฑn Province AuthoritiesStatement announcing the cancellation of the cruise ship's docking in Turkey.

Performer Patti LuPone, a Tony Award winner scheduled to appear on the ship, expressed her anger on Instagram. "I'm furious, but I'm still going to sail with them because the ship is going to other ports," she wrote. "I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise. They deserve far better treatment than what has been demonstrated."

I'm furious, but I'm still going to sail with them because the ship is going to other ports. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise. They deserve far better treatment than what has been demonstrated.

โ€” Patti LuPoneExpressing her anger and commitment to perform for passengers after the ship was denied entry into Turkey.

Rich Campbell, president of Atlantis Events, called the decision "shocking." He noted that in the 36-year history of Atlantis, this is the first time passengers have been explicitly told they cannot dock. "The primary motive is truly astonishing. I am very concerned when a country decides which tourists to let in and which not to," Campbell stated. He added that Atlantis had docked gay cruise ships in Istanbul and KuลŸadasฤฑ 13 times over the past 25 years. Despite efforts to change the decision, including calls to the U.S. Embassy in Turkey, the ship will now stop in Cairo and Crete instead.

While homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, homophobia is widespread, even reaching high government levels. President ErdoฤŸan has frequently labeled LGBTQ+ individuals as deviants and a threat to traditional family values. Istanbul's Pride parade, once a large event, has been banned annually by the government since 2015.

The primary motive is truly astonishing. I am very concerned when a country decides which tourists to let in and which not to.

โ€” Rich CampbellPresident of Atlantis Events, reacting to the denial of entry for the cruise ship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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