Turkey Gay Gui | Queerist

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• AN INSIR’S GUI TO LGBTQ ISTANBUL THE TURKISH FLAG FLI OVER THE BOSPOS ON THE BACK OF A FERRY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP CASSAM LOOCH EDORIAL MANAGER 25 JULY 2019 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT FREELANCE PHOTOJOURNALIST BRADLEY SECKER HAS SPENT EIGHT YEARS ISTANBUL EXPLORG THE LAYERED INTI OF THE CY AND S PEOPLE THROUGH A SERI OF PHOTO PROJECTS. HE TELLS CULTURE TRIP HOW HIS ADOPTED CY HAS CHANGED RECENT YEARS AND THE BT SPOTS FOR LGBTQ TRAVELLERS. VIEW ALL TRIPS THE CULTURE OF PRI CELEBRAT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RTS. TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP ECUADOR SPA CROATIA JAPAN THAILAND GREECE BALI MOROC TURKEY INDIA ICELAND EGYPT SOUTH AI MEXI BODYBUILRS PERFORM A DRAG SHOW AT ISTANBUL’S TEK YöN NIGHTCLUB | © BRADLEY SECKER “MY WORK FOC ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, MOSTLY ABOUT INTY AND HOW SHAP SOMEONE’S LIFE. I’VE ALSO LOOKED AT MORY MUNI AROUND TURKEY AND THE REGN, INTY POLICS AND PERSONALY CULTS, POLICS AND SOCIAL ISSU, AS WELL AS MIGRATN OM A MORE NCEPTUAL AND HUMANISG PERSPECTIVE,” SECKER SAYS. SECKER HAS MA A STUDY OF INTY POLICS THE REGN | © BRADLEY SECKER “EVERY CY HAS S PROBLEMS, BUT ISTANBUL HAS BEEN THROUGH SOME TOUGH YEARS RECENTLY, WH TERRORIST ATTACKS, A FAILED ARY UP AND PERHAPS THE OUTSIR’S PERCEPTN OF STABILY,” SECKER SAYS. “THE SUATN ISTANBUL NOW IS BETTER THAN ’S BEEN YEARS TERMS OF SAFETY, LIFTYLE AND TRANSPORTATN. AS A TRANS HUB, ISTANBUL IS AMAZG FOR VERG THE SURROUNDG REGN. THERE ARE TENS OF UNTRI WH JT A FEW HOURS’ FLIGHT OM THE CY.” CARIBBEAN COLOMBIA DISVER COLOMBIA’S CARIBBEAN AST, OM CARTAGENA TO PALOMO VIA JUNGL, RIVERS AND ISLANDS. VIEW TRIP THE GEOGRAPHIL PLACEMENT OF ISTANBUL HAS LEFT OPEN TO FLUENC OM BOTH EUROPE AND ASIA. AND WHILE THERE IS AN LGBTQ MUNY HERE, SECKER POTS OUT THE DIFFERENC BETWEEN LIFE ISTANBUL AND ELSEWHERE EUROPE. HORSE-DRAWN RRIAG WA FOR CTOMERS ALONG THE PORT ON BURGAZADA, ONE OF ISTANBUL’S PRC’ ISLANDS | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “I THK ’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT ISTANBUL ISN’T BERL, AND OPEN DISPLAYS OF AFFECTN ON THE STREET AREN’T GENERALLY WELED – WHETHER YOU’RE STRAIGHT OR LGBTQ, YOU JT NEED TO BE A LTLE UT. LGBTQ PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A SIXTH SENSE FOR SAFETY AND AWARENS, SO ’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT FELY TUNED AT CERTA POTS ISTANBUL,” HE SAYS. “SOME YOUNGER TURKISH LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE VERY OPEN, AND THE DRAG SCENE IS PICKG UP ONCE AGA, FIANCE OF A MORE RTRICTIVE ATTU TOWARDS LGBTQ LIFE SOME AREAS OF THE CY. THERE ARE MANY ISTANBULS, AND EACH ONE HAS S OWN SET OF UNWRTEN SOCIAL L. AREAS LIKE BEYOğLU, KADıKöY AND BEşIKTAş ARE MUCH MORE OPEN AND WELG TOWARDS LGBTQ DIVIDUALS THAN SOME OTHER MORE SOCIALLY AND RELIGLY NSERVATIVE AREAS OF THE CY, SUCH AS FATIH. WALKG AROUND SOME AREAS OF ISTANBUL I THK SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED BY THE OPENNS AND VISIBILY OF QUEER PEOPLE, AND THE PRENCE OF QUEER-IENDLY SPAC.” BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. A MALE ZENNE DANCER PERFORMS AT THE TRANS BETY PAGEANT | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP AFTER EIGHT YEARS THE CY, SECKER IS FIRMLY EMBEDD THE LGBTQ SCENE. “SAHIKA TERAS IS A GREAT VENUE N BY UZUM, AN CREDIBLE TRANS WOMAN. TEK YöN IS ISTANBUL’S MOST WELL-KNOWN GAY CLUB, AND S CLIENTELE ARE A LTLE MORE DIVERSE THAN THE YOUNGER HIP TYP AT SAHIKA TERAS. THE MIC TEK YöN ISN’T AS GOOD EHER, BUT ’S A GOOD PLACE TO GO IF YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD CROSS SECTN OF ISTANBUL’S GAY MUNI.” SOME OF HIS FAVOURE SPOTS HAVE A BROAR APPEAL RATHER THAN FOCSG ON A SPECIFIC MUNY. “I ALSO REMEND GOG TO PLAC LIKE ARKAODA AND BINA KADıKöY, OR STG OUTSI THE MANY BARS THE SURROUNDG AREA. THE AREN’T SPECIFILLY QUEER SPAC, BUT THEY ARE FELY LGBTQ IENDLY. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER GAY CLUBS SUCH AS CHEEKY, LOVE, SUPERFABRIC AND OTHERS, BUT I PREFER THE MOOD ELSEWHERE.” MANY VISORS ARE SURPRISED BY THE VISIBILY OF QUEER LIFE THE CY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “THE MA EVENT THE ISTANBUL LGBTQ LENDAR, AND THE MOST VISIBLE, ED TO BE THE PRI MARCH, BUT SCE THIS HAS BEEN BANNED BY THE ISTANBUL ERNOR RECENT YEARS, THE PRI WEEK EVENTS HAVE TAKEN UP MORE FOC. THEMED PARTI, DRAG SHOWS AND OTHER EVENTS ARE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THE SUMMER IS FELY THE TIME FOR PRE-PRI AND MORE LGBTQ-IENDLY PARTI AND EVENTS.” FRIENDS DRK TEA ALONG THE SEAONT | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP ISTANBUL REMAS A HUGELY POPULAR STATN FOR TOURISTS OM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. SECKER, WHO LIV WH HIS BOYIEND AND TWO TS KADıKöY, HAS PLENTY OF REMENDATNS FOR VISORS LOOKG TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CY. AN ARTISTIC STREET KADIKöY IS FILLED WH BREAKFAST SPOTS, FéS AND STREET TS | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “I LOVE MY NEIGHBOURHOOD, KADıKöY (ON ISTANBUL’S ASIAN SI), THE MOST. IT’S THE PERFECT MIX OF RELAXED AND LIVELY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF STREETS FILLED WH CUTE FéS, RTRANTS, BARS, HIPSTER SHOPS [AND] CLOTHG BOUTIQU, AND THE WATER IS NEVER FAR AWAY, WH A GREAT VIEW OVER TO THE HISTORIL PENSULA OF ISTANBUL WHERE YOU N SEE THE BLUE MOSQUE, TOPKAPI PALACE AND HAGIA SOPHIA. PEOPLE OFTEN GRAB A BEER ON A SWEATY SUMMER EVENG AND HEAD DOWN TO S ON THE ROCKS WH IENDS. IT’S NEVER BORG, AND MANY ARTISTS MOVED TO THE AREA AS ’S LS EXPENSIVE THAN BEYOğLU, AND WH MORE SPACE. THE SEASI PROM WALK ON THE AST KADIKöY, LOOKG OUT TO ISTANBUL’S HISTORIC PENSULA, THE BIG TOURISTIC HOTSPOT OF TOWN | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP I ALSO ENJOY THE AREA AROUND THE GALATA TOWER BEYOğLU (ON ISTANBUL’S EUROPEAN SI), AND THE SMALL STREETS LEADG UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL (AND TOWER SELF). THE AREA IS MUCH MORE TOURISTIC THAN KADıKöY, BUT S HAS S OWN CHARM AS THE BUILDGS ARE GENERALLY OLR THAN THOSE KADıKöY.” SMALL SI STREETS AROUND THE GALATA TOWER BEYOğLU ARE A GREAT PLACE TO BUY GIFTS, GET A B LOST AND HAVE A H JUICE OR A FFEE ONE LSER-KNOWN HIGHLIGHT FOR SECKER ALSO OFFERS THE CHANCE TO GET AN THENTIC LOOK AT LIFE ISTANBUL. “I THK VISORS SHOULD SPEND TIME TAKG A BOAT TO THE PRC’ ISLANDS AND CYCLG AROUND, OR WALKG AROUND SOME OF THE LS TOURISTIC DISTRICTS, WHERE YOU N GET A BETTER SENSE OF DAILY ISTANBUL LIFE FOR THE LIBERAL, YOUNG LOLS. A VIEW OF THE GALATA TOWER AND THE LOWER BEYOğLU NEIGHBOURHOOD | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP IF YOU ARE VISG A CENT-SIZED GROUP OF IENDS, YOU N HIRE SMALL CISG BOATS OUT FOR THE DAY, AND SAIL UP AND DOWN THE BOSPOS, AND STOP OFF FOR AN HOUR TO EAT LUNCH ON BOARD (BRG YOUR OWN FOOD AND BOOZE) WHILE TAKG A DIP THE BOSPOS, BETWEEN NTENTAL ASIA AND EUROPE, AND SEEG THE BIG CY THE DISTANCE, HIGHLY REMEND .” SWIMMG THE MARMARA SEA OFF AT THE PRC’ ISLANDS IS A RELAXG BREAK OM THE CHAOS OF THE CY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP PRI 2019 MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RTS NEW YORK CY AND THE BEGNGS OF THE TERNATNAL PRI MOVEMENT. TO CELEBRATE, CULTURE TRIP SPOTLIGHTS LGBTQ PNEERS CHANGG THE LANDSPE OF LOVE AROUND THE WORLD. WELE TO THE CULTURE OF PRI. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
• GAY & LGBTİ+ FRIENDLY CLUBS ISTANBUL 2023
• GAY ISTANBUL ISTANBUL CY GUI
• TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS TURKEY
• EXPLORE VAST AND HIDN GAY TURKEY
• THE BEST ISTANBUL GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS ISTANBUL
• GAY LIFE MORN TURKEY
• COLLAGG AN ALTERNATE REALY FOR GAY LIFE TURKEY
• TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS ISTANBUL

AN INSIR’S GUI TO LGBTQ ISTANBUL THE TURKISH FLAG FLI OVER THE BOSPOS ON THE BACK OF A FERRY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP CASSAM LOOCH EDORIAL MANAGER 25 JULY 2019 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT FREELANCE PHOTOJOURNALIST BRADLEY SECKER HAS SPENT EIGHT YEARS ISTANBUL EXPLORG THE LAYERED INTI OF THE CY AND S PEOPLE THROUGH A SERI OF PHOTO PROJECTS. HE TELLS CULTURE TRIP HOW HIS ADOPTED CY HAS CHANGED RECENT YEARS AND THE BT SPOTS FOR LGBTQ TRAVELLERS. VIEW ALL TRIPS THE CULTURE OF PRI CELEBRAT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RTS. TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP ECUADOR SPA CROATIA JAPAN THAILAND GREECE BALI MOROC TURKEY INDIA ICELAND EGYPT SOUTH AI MEXI BODYBUILRS PERFORM A DRAG SHOW AT ISTANBUL’S TEK YöN NIGHTCLUB | © BRADLEY SECKER “MY WORK FOC ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS, MOSTLY ABOUT INTY AND HOW SHAP SOMEONE’S LIFE. I’VE ALSO LOOKED AT MORY MUNI AROUND TURKEY AND THE REGN, INTY POLICS AND PERSONALY CULTS, POLICS AND SOCIAL ISSU, AS WELL AS MIGRATN OM A MORE NCEPTUAL AND HUMANISG PERSPECTIVE,” SECKER SAYS. SECKER HAS MA A STUDY OF INTY POLICS THE REGN | © BRADLEY SECKER “EVERY CY HAS S PROBLEMS, BUT ISTANBUL HAS BEEN THROUGH SOME TOUGH YEARS RECENTLY, WH TERRORIST ATTACKS, A FAILED ARY UP AND PERHAPS THE OUTSIR’S PERCEPTN OF STABILY,” SECKER SAYS. “THE SUATN ISTANBUL NOW IS BETTER THAN ’S BEEN YEARS TERMS OF SAFETY, LIFTYLE AND TRANSPORTATN. AS A TRANS HUB, ISTANBUL IS AMAZG FOR VERG THE SURROUNDG REGN. THERE ARE TENS OF UNTRI WH JT A FEW HOURS’ FLIGHT OM THE CY.” CARIBBEAN COLOMBIA DISVER COLOMBIA’S CARIBBEAN AST, OM CARTAGENA TO PALOMO VIA JUNGL, RIVERS AND ISLANDS. VIEW TRIP THE GEOGRAPHIL PLACEMENT OF ISTANBUL HAS LEFT OPEN TO FLUENC OM BOTH EUROPE AND ASIA. AND WHILE THERE IS AN LGBTQ MUNY HERE, SECKER POTS OUT THE DIFFERENC BETWEEN LIFE ISTANBUL AND ELSEWHERE EUROPE. HORSE-DRAWN RRIAG WA FOR CTOMERS ALONG THE PORT ON BURGAZADA, ONE OF ISTANBUL’S PRC’ ISLANDS | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “I THK ’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT ISTANBUL ISN’T BERL, AND OPEN DISPLAYS OF AFFECTN ON THE STREET AREN’T GENERALLY WELED – WHETHER YOU’RE STRAIGHT OR LGBTQ, YOU JT NEED TO BE A LTLE UT. LGBTQ PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE A SIXTH SENSE FOR SAFETY AND AWARENS, SO ’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT FELY TUNED AT CERTA POTS ISTANBUL,” HE SAYS. “SOME YOUNGER TURKISH LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE VERY OPEN, AND THE DRAG SCENE IS PICKG UP ONCE AGA, FIANCE OF A MORE RTRICTIVE ATTU TOWARDS LGBTQ LIFE SOME AREAS OF THE CY. THERE ARE MANY ISTANBULS, AND EACH ONE HAS S OWN SET OF UNWRTEN SOCIAL L. AREAS LIKE BEYOğLU, KADıKöY AND BEşIKTAş ARE MUCH MORE OPEN AND WELG TOWARDS LGBTQ DIVIDUALS THAN SOME OTHER MORE SOCIALLY AND RELIGLY NSERVATIVE AREAS OF THE CY, SUCH AS FATIH. WALKG AROUND SOME AREAS OF ISTANBUL I THK SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED BY THE OPENNS AND VISIBILY OF QUEER PEOPLE, AND THE PRENCE OF QUEER-IENDLY SPAC.” BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. A MALE ZENNE DANCER PERFORMS AT THE TRANS BETY PAGEANT | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP AFTER EIGHT YEARS THE CY, SECKER IS FIRMLY EMBEDD THE LGBTQ SCENE. “SAHIKA TERAS IS A GREAT VENUE N BY UZUM, AN CREDIBLE TRANS WOMAN. TEK YöN IS ISTANBUL’S MOST WELL-KNOWN GAY CLUB, AND S CLIENTELE ARE A LTLE MORE DIVERSE THAN THE YOUNGER HIP TYP AT SAHIKA TERAS. THE MIC TEK YöN ISN’T AS GOOD EHER, BUT ’S A GOOD PLACE TO GO IF YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD CROSS SECTN OF ISTANBUL’S GAY MUNI.” SOME OF HIS FAVOURE SPOTS HAVE A BROAR APPEAL RATHER THAN FOCSG ON A SPECIFIC MUNY. “I ALSO REMEND GOG TO PLAC LIKE ARKAODA AND BINA KADıKöY, OR STG OUTSI THE MANY BARS THE SURROUNDG AREA. THE AREN’T SPECIFILLY QUEER SPAC, BUT THEY ARE FELY LGBTQ IENDLY. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER GAY CLUBS SUCH AS CHEEKY, LOVE, SUPERFABRIC AND OTHERS, BUT I PREFER THE MOOD ELSEWHERE.” MANY VISORS ARE SURPRISED BY THE VISIBILY OF QUEER LIFE THE CY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “THE MA EVENT THE ISTANBUL LGBTQ LENDAR, AND THE MOST VISIBLE, ED TO BE THE PRI MARCH, BUT SCE THIS HAS BEEN BANNED BY THE ISTANBUL ERNOR RECENT YEARS, THE PRI WEEK EVENTS HAVE TAKEN UP MORE FOC. THEMED PARTI, DRAG SHOWS AND OTHER EVENTS ARE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT THE SUMMER IS FELY THE TIME FOR PRE-PRI AND MORE LGBTQ-IENDLY PARTI AND EVENTS.” FRIENDS DRK TEA ALONG THE SEAONT | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP ISTANBUL REMAS A HUGELY POPULAR STATN FOR TOURISTS OM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD. SECKER, WHO LIV WH HIS BOYIEND AND TWO TS KADıKöY, HAS PLENTY OF REMENDATNS FOR VISORS LOOKG TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CY. AN ARTISTIC STREET KADIKöY IS FILLED WH BREAKFAST SPOTS, FéS AND STREET TS | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP “I LOVE MY NEIGHBOURHOOD, KADıKöY (ON ISTANBUL’S ASIAN SI), THE MOST. IT’S THE PERFECT MIX OF RELAXED AND LIVELY. THERE ARE PLENTY OF STREETS FILLED WH CUTE FéS, RTRANTS, BARS, HIPSTER SHOPS [AND] CLOTHG BOUTIQU, AND THE WATER IS NEVER FAR AWAY, WH A GREAT VIEW OVER TO THE HISTORIL PENSULA OF ISTANBUL WHERE YOU N SEE THE BLUE MOSQUE, TOPKAPI PALACE AND HAGIA SOPHIA. PEOPLE OFTEN GRAB A BEER ON A SWEATY SUMMER EVENG AND HEAD DOWN TO S ON THE ROCKS WH IENDS. IT’S NEVER BORG, AND MANY ARTISTS MOVED TO THE AREA AS ’S LS EXPENSIVE THAN BEYOğLU, AND WH MORE SPACE. THE SEASI PROM WALK ON THE AST KADIKöY, LOOKG OUT TO ISTANBUL’S HISTORIC PENSULA, THE BIG TOURISTIC HOTSPOT OF TOWN | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP I ALSO ENJOY THE AREA AROUND THE GALATA TOWER BEYOğLU (ON ISTANBUL’S EUROPEAN SI), AND THE SMALL STREETS LEADG UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL (AND TOWER SELF). THE AREA IS MUCH MORE TOURISTIC THAN KADıKöY, BUT S HAS S OWN CHARM AS THE BUILDGS ARE GENERALLY OLR THAN THOSE KADıKöY.” SMALL SI STREETS AROUND THE GALATA TOWER BEYOğLU ARE A GREAT PLACE TO BUY GIFTS, GET A B LOST AND HAVE A H JUICE OR A FFEE ONE LSER-KNOWN HIGHLIGHT FOR SECKER ALSO OFFERS THE CHANCE TO GET AN THENTIC LOOK AT LIFE ISTANBUL. “I THK VISORS SHOULD SPEND TIME TAKG A BOAT TO THE PRC’ ISLANDS AND CYCLG AROUND, OR WALKG AROUND SOME OF THE LS TOURISTIC DISTRICTS, WHERE YOU N GET A BETTER SENSE OF DAILY ISTANBUL LIFE FOR THE LIBERAL, YOUNG LOLS. A VIEW OF THE GALATA TOWER AND THE LOWER BEYOğLU NEIGHBOURHOOD | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP IF YOU ARE VISG A CENT-SIZED GROUP OF IENDS, YOU N HIRE SMALL CISG BOATS OUT FOR THE DAY, AND SAIL UP AND DOWN THE BOSPOS, AND STOP OFF FOR AN HOUR TO EAT LUNCH ON BOARD (BRG YOUR OWN FOOD AND BOOZE) WHILE TAKG A DIP THE BOSPOS, BETWEEN NTENTAL ASIA AND EUROPE, AND SEEG THE BIG CY THE DISTANCE, HIGHLY REMEND .” SWIMMG THE MARMARA SEA OFF AT THE PRC’ ISLANDS IS A RELAXG BREAK OM THE CHAOS OF THE CY | © BRADLEY SECKER / CULTURE TRIP PRI 2019 MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL RTS NEW YORK CY AND THE BEGNGS OF THE TERNATNAL PRI MOVEMENT. TO CELEBRATE, CULTURE TRIP SPOTLIGHTS LGBTQ PNEERS CHANGG THE LANDSPE OF LOVE AROUND THE WORLD. WELE TO THE CULTURE OF PRI. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

However, ’s important to remember that Istanbul is pal of an Islamic untry; for all s liberal aspects, Turkey is chg s way closer to Middle Eastern valu daily, and this is havg a knock-on effect on LGBT rights Istanbul that gay travelers to the area should take to nsiratn. Homosexualy is not illegal Turkey: between adults, same-sex sexual activy was ma legal the Ottoman Empire 1858, and sce morn Turkey’s foundatn 1923 has always been legal. However, there are some rather ambiguo bans the crimal on “offens agast public moraly” which n be terpreted agast LGBT people and homosexuals are banned om ary service.

Currently, there are no anti-discrimatn laws Turkey that protect LGBT people om discrimatn the public sphere or employment, although opposn parti have tried to troduce bills providg legal protectn for gay and transgenr people.

GAY & LGBTİ+ FRIENDLY CLUBS ISTANBUL 2023

A report published by Human Rights Watch 2008 outled the daily threat of vlence and discrimatn faced by gay and transgenr people, wh sufficient reactn om police and the thori. The social suatn for members of the gay muny is better smopolan Istanbul than ral areas but whether or not people feel fortable g out to their fay and iends is extremely ntext-pennt and still pos a number of risks. Istanbul has a fairly thrivg gay scene, wh pulsg dance floors, gay bars, and hamams; but many lols who participate are livg a double life, beg unable to be open wh their fai or at work for fear of the negative impact uld have on their future.

The shift towards nservatism Turkey as a whole do not bo well, but Istanbul’s long-tablished liberal character uld hold firm agast a risg ti of anti-gay feelg and hopefully ph that ti back. Generally speakg LGBT rights Istanbul are fairly well-tablished and is a very gay-iendly cy, although most of the gay life happens doors or at night. As wh most plac the world, gay upl or sgle gay travelers hopg to meet people should not n to any problems if stayg ternatnal, upsle hotels.

Otherwise, Istanbul offers a range of queer-iendly hotels and hostels, maly the areas mentned above – the gay quarter of Taksim, or Beyoğlu.

GAY ISTANBUL ISTANBUL CY GUI

Asi om the wealth of historic and cultural sights, there is a relatively thrivg gay scene Istanbul wh plenty of bars, clubs, f, and rtrants to choose om. There is also a range of hamams, but as a tradnal Turkish experience they are equented by everyone, so travelers should not assume they are specifilly gay foced.

In fact, the current climate, snas and hamams will actively avoid beg labeled as ‘gay-iendly, ’ so is better jt to enjoy the as cultural experienc unls you are wh someone the know. Gettg to know people is one of the bt thgs about travelg and that’s particularly important a place like Istanbul, where the gay scene is not always ‘ your face. ’ Headg to Taksim or Beyoğlu to start a night out a gay bar is a good way to get chattg to lols and then plan your night om there.

Pokyo Bar has tablished self as one of Istanbul's most popular gay venu, attractg both lol gay muny members and visg travelers seekg an excg nightlife experience. Welg a diverse mix of male gays, female gays, transvt, and bears, the club embrac clivy and provis a vibrant party atmosphere for all. The tablishments exemplify the diverse and thrivg gay club scene Istanbul, terg to different tast and preferenc wh the LGBTQ+ muny.

TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS TURKEY

Explorg the venu promis an excg and clive experience for lols and visors alike, showsg the vibrant spir of Istanbul's gay nightlife.

EXPLORE VAST AND HIDN GAY TURKEY

For gay travelers visg Istanbul, the Beyoglu district is a popular area to stay, offerg easy accs to gay venu and entertament optns.

Unfortunately, this is havg a very real and visible effect on LGBT rights Turkey that gay travelers to the area should take to acunt when planng a trip. In fact, same-sex sexual activy was legalized the Ottoman Empire 1858 and homosexualy has been legal sce 1923 when morn Turkey was found. This is spe the efforts of some opposn parti who have attempted to troduce bills that would allow gay and transgenr people legal protectn.

THE BEST ISTANBUL GAY CLUBS & BARSGAY CLUBS & BARS ISTANBUL

A report published by Human Rights Watch 2008 showed how gay and transgenr muni face a threat of vlence and discrimatn on a daily basis. The social suatn for members of the gay muny is better smopolan Istanbul than ral areas, where honor killgs still occur; but whether or not people feel fortable g out to their fay and iends pletely pends on their own ntext and would still mean a number of risks.

Istanbul and some of the most tourist-iendly areas, such as Bodm, have a fairly thrivg gay scene, wh pulsg dance floors, gay bars, and hamams; but many lols who are volved the gays scene by night are livg a different life by day, as they are not able to be open wh their fay or iends, and certaly not at work, where they uld worry about the impact would have on their future. Public displays of affectn between heterosexual upl are owned upon as well, so any travelers would be advised to be discrete, not jt gay travelers.

Even Ankara and Izmir, Turkey’s pal and most Wtern-leang cy rpectively, don’t have anythg that close to beg scribed as a ‘gay scene’, so while they’re tertg plac to vis, gay travelers shouldn’t expect a party. There is also a range of hamams, but they are equented by everyone bee they are such a tradnal Turkish experience, so gay travelers should not assume they are specifilly gay foced. Gettg to know people is one of the bt thgs about travelg and that’s particularly important a place like Turkey, where the gay scene is not always ‘ your face’.

GAY LIFE MORN TURKEY

If you are stayg Istanbul or a seasi rort like Antalya, startg a night out a known gay-iendly bar is a good way to get chattg to lols and then plan your night om there.

Hor is the most prevalent gay social workg app Turkey (Grdr is banned), ’s sensible to stall a high-qualy VPN to protect privacy and avoid censorship. Compared to almost everywhere else the Middle East (Tel Aviv asi), Turkey is (still) one of the more liberal untri gay travelers n vis. Gay Istanbul Istanbul Cy GuiThe heady llisn pot of ntents and cultur, Istanbul is where Europe meets the Middle East, brgg diverse people, religns and philosophi together a eic fn of mysticism and morny.

COLLAGG AN ALTERNATE REALY FOR GAY LIFE TURKEY

For your five Istanbul gay scene gui, you’ve e to the right bt hotels IstanbulStayg Istanbul n be a real treat, elegant all the right ways wh unmatched hospaly. Let’s start our Istanbul gay cy gui wh the bt acmodatn the cy has to offer, begng wh The Hoe Hotel Karakoy, a five-star lodgg the up-and-g district of Karaköy on Bankalar Cadsi, the cy’s sleek fancial district, close proximy to bohemian Beyoğlu and historic Sultanahmet. Although homosexualy is legal Turkey, we're talkg about a fairly nservative culture, so discretn is advisable -- even if Turkish men are to more public displays of affectn wh each other than wh their wiv.

TIPS FOR GAY AND LBIAN TRAVELERS ISTANBUL

Still gayns is g more and more out of the closet Turkey; 2009, more than 3, 000 members of the lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) muny attend the Pri March Istanbul. Kaos GL () was the first gay and lbian magaze Turkey; their onle prence has a substantial sectn English, wh featur addrsg issu affectg gays and lbians Turkey.

Though homosexualy is not nsired a crimal offence (same-sex sexual activy beg legalised by the Ottoman Empire 1858), tolerance towards gay people is limed and s of vlence have been known to occur. As of 2016, followg an attempted up, the untry has been ntrolled by a religly nservative print, wh the rult beg ltle to no progrs the area of gay rights. LGBT people are currently not protected by law, and Ankara meanwhile, a prohibn on all LGBT activy has been the bad news out of the way, remas to be said that travellers who act wh discretn, gay and straight alike, are unlikely to experience any trouble while Turkey.