President Erdoğan says he does not 'recognize LGBT' at AKP congress

Turkish President Erdoğan stated that he does not "recognize LGBT" and pledged to counter "perverse" trends that he believes threaten the institution of family in the country at ruling AKP's congress.

Saturday October 07 2023 02:48 pm

Reuters

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Oct. 7 he did not "recognize LGBT" and vowed to combat "perverse" trends which he said aimed to destroy the institution of family in the country.

Turkey's government, led by Erdoğan and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has toughened its stance on LGBTI+ freedoms in recent months, particularly while campaigning for this year's elections in May.

Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility to it is widespread, and police crackdowns on Pride parades have become tougher over the years.

Speaking at an AKP congress in Ankara, Erdoğan, who has frequently labeled members of the LGBTI+ community as "deviants", said neither his party, nor their far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) allies, recognized the LGBTI+ community.

"We do not recognize LGBT. Whoever recognizes LGBT can go and march with them. We are members of a structure that holds the institution of family solid, that strongly embraces the family institution," he said.

"We will dry the roots of sneaky acts aiming to destroy our family institution by supporting perverse political, social and individual trends," he told tens of thousands of flag-waving and chanting supporters.

After the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, Erdoğan complained that he was uncomfortable with the use of what he described as "LGBT colors" at the U.N., which at the time was decorated with bright colors promoting the Sustainable Development Goals.