Turkey Escalates Clampdown on LGBTQ+ Rights
Ruling Coalition Supports Controversial Legislation
The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is set to advance a controversial new bill targeting LGBTQ+ rights. The legislation is closely tied to the government’s “Year of the Family” initiative, launched in January 2025. Drafted and submitted in April by the Islamist-conservative HÜDAPAR party—a junior member of the ruling coalition—the bill is expected to form part of Turkey’s 11th Judicial Reform Package, which is currently under review in Parliament.
Potential Criminalization of LGBTQ+ Identity and Expression
According to local media outlets, the proposed law could criminalize public expressions of LGBTQ+ identity. This includes introducing penalties for those found “promoting homosexuality,” a provision that could lead to prison sentences. The legislation also proposes further restrictions on gender transition procedures.
Individuals who openly identify as LGBTQ+ or display gender-nonconforming behavior may face jail time ranging from one to three years. Same-sex couples who participate in engagement or wedding ceremonies could each be sentenced to 18 months to four years in prison—separately prosecuted for their involvement.
Penalties related to public indecency or sexual behavior are also expected to become more severe. Sentences for such offenses would rise from the current range of six months to one year, up to a maximum of three years. Article 225 of the Turkish Penal Code, which currently addresses “immoral” acts, would be broadened to encompass LGBTQ+-related speech and actions. Human rights advocates, LGBTQ+ organizations, and even journalists speaking in support of queer rights would be vulnerable under the new provisions.
Harsher Regulations on Gender Transition
The draft bill introduces a series of restrictive conditions for transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming care. The minimum age for undergoing surgery would be raised from 18 to 25. Applicants must remain unmarried, undergo a medical evaluation at a state-approved hospital, and attend four clinical visits scheduled a minimum of three months apart. Even hormone therapy would require formal approval from a court.
Medical providers performing gender-affirming procedures outside these narrowly defined legal parameters could face three to seven years in prison. For cases involving minors or those lacking proper documentation, penalties could be doubled. Trans individuals who undergo unapproved treatment may be sentenced to one to three years in prison.
While exceptions may be made for individuals with verified genetic or hormonal intersex conditions, the framework is so restrictive that it could make legal transitions virtually impossible—criminalizing both patients and caregivers in the process.
Part of a Growing Pattern of Repression
The proposed legislation follows a broader trend toward authoritarianism in Turkey. Since 2014, Pride parades have consistently been banned, public displays of homophobia have increased, and LGBTQ+ themed films and cultural events—such as Luca Guadagnino’s Queer—have been targeted and censored at major festivals.
Government officials maintain that these measures are essential for preserving “family values,” supporting the “healthy development” of society, and safeguarding “social order”—language that appeals strongly to Erdoğan’s conservative base.
Strong Global Backlash and Human Rights Concerns
Human rights advocates and organizations, including ILGA-Europe, have condemned the draft legislation as a serious violation of civil liberties. Critics argue that it constitutes a direct attack on free speech, human dignity, and the rights of LGBTQ+ people to healthcare and self-expression.
Turkey currently ranks 47th out of 49 European countries in ILGA-Europe’s annual LGBTQ+ rights index, signalling one of the most repressive environments on the continent for queer individuals.
Though the bill has not yet been formally submitted to the Turkish Parliament, leaked versions and investigative reports suggest sweeping restrictions—particularly targeting transgender citizens and same-sex partnerships.