The emphasis on family values and the portrayal of LGBTQ+ pleople as a threat to these values has been part of a narrative often resorted to by local politicians including President Erdogan.
I mean Turkey being anti-LGBT isn’t exactly a new developement. I’m glad you’re not going anymore as that could put you in danger, but they’ve never been subtle about their stance on that matter. Careful where you travel.
The weird thing is that homosexuality was decriminalised in Turkey in 1858 (compare that to 1967 in the UK), yet in 2020 they found that 57% of Turks oppose accepting it in society, and the government is and has always been very queerphobic.
Well then you’ll be glad to visit, because that narrative is easy to dispel. Especially considering the topic of this post is visiting Turkey of all intolerant places.
It’s not easy or possible to dispel that it’s a literal theocratic ethnostate. It’s something they’re pretty open about. Still think it’s worth a visit. Lots of places with shitty governments are worth visiting.
Israel is far less theocratic than the United Kingdom, where the head of State is also the head of Church. And she’s actually a descendant of Muhammad too! I could mention quite a few other “esteemed” theocracies, from Iran to (arguably) the United States (Christmas is a government holiday). Any definition of “Theocracy” that includes Israel, will include the majority of the Western world.
As for being an ethnostate, Israel is far less of an ethnostate than any other middle eastern country with possibly the exception of Lebanon depending on how you’d like to frame Lebanese law requiring certain government positions to be held by people of certain ethnicities. And any definition of “ethnostate” that includes Israel will include Belgium, Latvia, Estonia, and Ireland as well, at a minimum.
I was thinking of visiting Istanbul this year. I guess I will pass and spend my pink money somewhere else. Where it is appreciated.
I mean Turkey being anti-LGBT isn’t exactly a new developement. I’m glad you’re not going anymore as that could put you in danger, but they’ve never been subtle about their stance on that matter. Careful where you travel.
The weird thing is that homosexuality was decriminalised in Turkey in 1858 (compare that to 1967 in the UK), yet in 2020 they found that 57% of Turks oppose accepting it in society, and the government is and has always been very queerphobic.
Yeah it was way cooler when it was known as constantinople.
Come to Israel. We respect everybody. Yes, even the people that the news tries to make you think that we hate. The vast majority of us don’t.
If you weren’t killing kids, displacing families, and generally a colonial ethnostate we would love to visit israel.
Well then you’ll be glad to visit, because that narrative is easy to dispel. Especially considering the topic of this post is visiting Turkey of all intolerant places.
It’s not easy or possible to dispel that it’s a literal theocratic ethnostate. It’s something they’re pretty open about. Still think it’s worth a visit. Lots of places with shitty governments are worth visiting.
Israel is far less theocratic than the United Kingdom, where the head of State is also the head of Church. And she’s actually a descendant of Muhammad too! I could mention quite a few other “esteemed” theocracies, from Iran to (arguably) the United States (Christmas is a government holiday). Any definition of “Theocracy” that includes Israel, will include the majority of the Western world.
As for being an ethnostate, Israel is far less of an ethnostate than any other middle eastern country with possibly the exception of Lebanon depending on how you’d like to frame Lebanese law requiring certain government positions to be held by people of certain ethnicities. And any definition of “ethnostate” that includes Israel will include Belgium, Latvia, Estonia, and Ireland as well, at a minimum.