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Safety notice for LGBTQ+ travellers to Turkey: Turkey is more LGBTQ+-friendly than neighbouring countries but the situation has deteriorated significantly: • Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1858 (Ottoman era). • No anti-discrimination protections; no recognition of same-sex partnerships. • Pride parades have been banned in Istanbul since 2015. Police violently disperse small gatherings. • President Erdoğan has used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric increasingly in recent campaigns. • Trans women face violence and unsolved murders; HIV-positive non-citizens can be deported. Istanbul (Beyoğlu) has the strongest gay scene in the Muslim world, with bars, saunas and clubs operating discreetly. Ankara, Izmir and tourist resorts (Antalya, Bodrum) have smaller scenes. If you visit: • The scene exists but operates discreetly — no rainbow flags outside venues. • Public displays of affection draw stares but rarely police attention in tourist areas. • Avoid political demonstrations of any kind, especially around Pride dates. • Don't post Pride content from Turkish social media accounts. • Foreigners are rarely the target of harassment in Istanbul, but caution is wise everywhere else.