Although same-sex couples do not have the right to marry, the first same-sex marriage took place in Istanbul on 2^nd September 2014.

According to Amnesty International, state officials often target LGBTI individuals due to their sexual orientation, and the harassment causes difficulties in accessing public services such as support for housing and work. In addition, blood donations from homosexuals are not accepted by the Turkish Red Crescent as they are ranked as a risk group in terms of blood donations. According to a report submitted to the Human Rights Committee there have been a series of human rights violations of LGBTI people in Türkiye, including the State Minister for Women and Family Issues who stated in March 2010 that homosexuality is a ‘biological disorder’ and a ‘sickness’.

Istanbul has the largest population of transgender women in Türkiye and the authorities have progressively forced transgender women out of particular areas, using renewal land projects such as the Cabinet decision 2006/10172, published in the Official Gazette 28 March 2006. The decision grants local authorities special powers to gain possession of the buildings.

The report ‘Unsafe Haven’ published by Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly and ORAM states that LGBTI refugees were exposed to violence, discrimination in the workplace, inaccessible health care, barriers to social assistance and a hostile educational environment. Furthermore LGBTI refugees in Türkiye face violence and harassment by the local population.

According to several reports on Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, there have been a number of hate crimes committed against the LGBTI community in Türkiye. These are also highlighted in detail in the ILGA Europe Annual Review 2013. LGBTI persons reported to amnesty international that they have no faith in the protection mechanism from the authorities and find that crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are not prosecuted. In 2008, Ahmet Yıldız was killed by his father Yahya Yıldız. The case is discussed by the media as the ‘first homosexual honour killing’ in Türkiye, but this should not distract from the fact that many others have died without the public taking notice. The case of Ahmet Yıldız shows the state’s failure to respond to violence based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Ahmet Yıldız filed a criminal complaint requesting protection given the threats from his family members, but it was ignored by the authorities.

A 2008 Human Rights Watch report provides detailed accounts of homophobic violence and discrimination by police officials.  Gay men suffer repeated harassment. Lesbian and bisexual women fear family violence in reaction to their alleged violation of ‘honour’ and ‘custom’. Transgender people experience state violence, abuse, and harassment, as emphasized in a report on Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Undercover police officers belonging to the Balyoz (Hammer) Team behave violently towards transgender individuals.

There are a number of NGOs supporting LGBTI persons in Türkiye. The Helsinki Citizens Assembly is the leading NGO on issues concerning LGBTI asylum-seekers and refugees in Türkiye. Kaos GL (Kaos Gay and Lesbian Cultural Researches and Solidarity Association) is a Turkish LGBT rights organization based in Ankara. The organisation provides legal assistance to LGBT asylum seekers and helps in promoting the rights and informing the public about issues related to LGBT rights. Lambda Istanbul is an LGBT rights organization located in Istanbul. The organisation  supports LGBT migrants and asylum seekers, and advocates for issues concerning LGBT rights. LGBTI News Turkey is a group of volunteer translators dedicated to providing English translations and sources on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) issues in Türkiye for journalists, activists, scholars, and the general public.

Halat v. Turkey, Application No. 23607/08, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 8 Nov 2011. This is a case about a trans woman who suffered physical and psychological abuse by a police officer. After eight years of judicial proceedings the judges ruled that Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was violated in regards to ineffective investigation carried out by the investigative officers.

X v. Turkey, Application No.24626/09, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights, 9 October 2012. This is a case about a homosexual prisoner who was kept in isolation for nearly a year, allegedly in order to protect other inmates. The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Article 3 ECHR was violated. This was the first time in ECHR history that Article 3 was used in relation to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

MS (Risk – Homosexual) Turkey v. Secretary of State for the Home Department, CG [2002] UKIAT 05654, United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority, 6 December 2002. This appeal was dismissed and the appellant returned to Türkiye. The Tribunal found that there may be a risk of discrimination but no real threat of persecution to the appellant when returned to Türkiye, despite the evidence that the police subjected him to rape. This case is no longer regarded as providing country guidance.

RRT Case No. 1208496, [2012] RRTA 1144, Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal, 24 December 2012. This is the case of a gay applicant subjected to serious assault on him and his partner by the community, police officers, family and friends, forcing them to flee to Australia. The Tribunal was satisfied with the credibility of the evidence proving his sexual orientation, and found that the applicant would not be safe in any area of Türkiye if returned. Thus, the Tribunal granted the applicant protection under the Refugee Convention.  

Erduran v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) , 2011 FC 1287, Canada: Federal Court, 10 November 2011 This is the case of a Turkish citizen who claimed protection on several grounds. Firstly, he feared persecution due to his refusal to join the military service in Türkiye. Secondly, he feared persecution due to his sexual orientation, and thirdly due to his Kurdish identity.

KAOS GL v. Turkey, Case No 4982/07, Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights This case concerns the seizure of the LGBT-magazine KAOS GL. The authorities prosecuted the editor, claiming that the publication was obscene according to the Turkish Criminal Code. However, the applicants argued that their rights to freedom of speech and prohibition of discrimination were being violated under Article 10 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, University of California Berkeley School of Law and Human Rights Watch intervened to raise concerns regarding the obligations of states to protect the rights of LGBTI people in accordance with Article 10 of the ECHR.