Turkey’s year of family becomes ‘year against LGBTI+’

In a recent parliamentary committee meeting, deputy chair of Turkey's media watchdog, RTÜK, announced, "We have declared 2025 as the year of combating LGBT." Meanwhile, a representative from the telecommunications authority BTK added, "We do not allow LGBT content under any circumstances."

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Representatives from Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) on March 6 sparked attention during their presentation to the Parliamentary Commission on Child Abuse and Violence, held at the Parliament, with strong anti-LGBTI+ rhetoric.

In the meeting, officials from both institutions emphasized their "firm stance against LGBT content," according to the reporting by daily Sözcü.

RTÜK Vice President Feyzullah Tecirli highlighted the declaration of 2025 as the "Year of the Family" and revealed that they had designated the year as a "the year of combating LGBT." He pointed out that the main themes of their agenda include combating screen addiction and LGBT-related content. "Rather than censorship, we are supporting family- and child-friendly initiatives," Tecirli said.

BTK Vice President Abdülkerim Gün also commented, "As BTK, in terms of providing safe internet services and filtering, we focus on children, but we absolutely do not permit LGBT content. In this regard, we are in legal battles with several associations, and we do not shy away from this, we do not allow it."

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared 2025 as the “Year of Family,” escalating his rhetoric against the LGBTI+ community in his speeches using "family and national values"

Government officials, including ministers, have also intensified hate speech against LGBTI+ individuals, frequently invoking "family values" as a justification.

It was recently revealed that the Turkish government has been planning to criminalize public expressions of LGBTI+ identities and restrict legal procedures for gender affirmation processes, according to a draft law proposal.

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Topics LGBTI+ LGBTI+ rights RTÜK BTK year of the family