Survival of LGBTI Rights in Turkey (2015-2019)

This study conducted among LGBTI civil society organisations in Turkey is aimed at understanding how the LGBTI community contests, counters, and evades the heteronormative policies of the Turkish government in the years between 2015 and mid-2019. To answer this question, qualitative research methods were used. In-depth interviews were held with multiple CSOs focusing on LGBTI rights and discourse analysis was executed on available documents by the European Union regarding the subject. The analysis shows that the CSOs have developed strategies and tactics to tackle the marginalising consequences of Turkish policy towards LGBTI individuals. Due to the current dire EU-Turkey relations, the EU has limited possibility to intervene other than providing financial support.