Turkey proposes radical new “reforms” to attack LGBTQ+ marriage, media, & trans

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Turkey proposes radical new "reforms" to attack LGBTQ+ marriage, media, & trans people

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/turkey-proposes-radical-new-reforms-to-lgbtq-marriage-media-trans-people/ 🔗

Greg Owen (17 Oct 2025)

A so-called "judicial reform" package unveiled by the Turkish government on Wednesday amplifies its already hostile official position toward trans and other LGBTQ+ community members with new measures that are seemingly arbitrary, draconian, and reactionary all at the same time.

Several of the package's proposals address the global far right's obsession with "gender ideology," promoted by authoritarians like U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

According to one proposed amendment, "Any person who engages in, publicly encourages, praises, or promotes attitudes or behaviors contrary to their biological sex at birth and public morality shall be punished with imprisonment of one to three years," Türkiye Today reports.

The draft proposal would amend an article of the Turkish Penal Code titled "Obscene Acts" to include a new clause criminalizing expressions of gender and sexuality that are found to contradict "biological sex and public morality." The proposal targets digital platforms featuring LGBTQ+ characters or storylines.

While homosexuality is not officially outlawed in Turkey, same-sex unions are. Under the proposed "reforms," same-sex couples holding engagement or wedding ceremonies could face prison sentences ranging from one and a half years to four years.

The penalty for "public sexual acts or exhibitionism," currently set between six months and one year, would also be increased to between one and three years.

Among the raft of changes conservative lawmakers are calling for, the authoritarian right's obsession with gender dominates, including a proposal to raise the legal age for gender reassignment surgery from 18 to 25.