The sudden ban of an LGBTQ+ cruise ship from docking at a Turkish port has sparked international outrage and raised questions about Turkey's stance on human rights. The Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady, carrying around 2,000 passengers including celebrated Broadway performer Patti LuPone, was denied entry to Kuşadası in the Aydin province of western Turkey, citing "moral values". The cruise ship had been scheduled to dock on July 7th as part of a 10-day 'all-gay voyage' from Athens, Greece.
The decision has left organisers at Atlantis Events, which chartered the ship, stunned. Rich Campbell, President and CEO, expressed his shock, saying this was the first time in their 36-year history that they had been refused entry due to the sexual orientation of their passengers. The company has previously docked gay cruises in Istanbul and Kuşadası on at least 13 occasions over the past 25 years.
Patti LuPone, a Tony Award-winning actress performing on the ship, expressed her dismay on social media, describing herself as "furious" that the vessel had been denied entry due to its LGBTQ+ passengers. The ship has since altered its itinerary, rerouting to Cairo and Crete instead.
The incident highlights Turkey's ongoing struggles with human rights and tolerance. While homosexuality is not explicitly illegal in Turkey, homophobia remains prevalent within government circles. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has consistently denounced LGBTQ+ individuals as "perverts" and a threat to traditional family values. The ban on Istanbul Pride since 2015 has also drawn international criticism.
This event echoes a similar incident in 2000 when over 800 gay tourists were denied entry to Kuşadası, leading the then tourism minister to apologise for the country's discriminatory policies. The latest decision has sparked concern among human rights groups and raised questions about the UK's diplomatic relations with Turkey. With several British LGBTQ+ cruise operators frequenting Turkish ports, the implications of this ban are likely to be felt across the industry.