Guidance for gay travelers visiting Istanbul
Istanbul – one of the safest
According to the statistics Istanbul is one of the safest metropolises of the world. But there are naturally some risks as in any other big city. Because of economic and social injustice, there is much frustration and a wide gap separates the rich from the poor. You can therefore come in contact with some malicious people on the gay scene. No need to worry too much though. The worst thing that can happen is that your money and other valuables are stolen. Even this is not likely to happen to you openly in the street or at bars and clubs, but only if you accept to go alone with someone you don’t know anything about.
Most Turkish people are very honest and hospitable, but you should not expect everyone you meet to be like that. Istanbul is a huge metropolis where you run into all sorts of people. In general you should feel at ease and can even be a little snobbish when necessary. Learn what the Turkish law is saying, and insist on your rights if need be.
Turkish Law and Homosexuality
There is no law against homosexuality in Turkey. In fact, there is not any law at all concerning homosexuality. The age of consent is 18, which also applies as the age limit to be able to enter bars and clubs selling alcohol. There are no legal proscriptions against consensual sex between adults 18 years and older, no matter what their gender. However, some general laws can be applied if you have sex or otherwise act indecently in a public place, so better think twice before acting.Turkish Culture and Gay Life
Turkish culture is no stranger to man-to-man love, as can be seen in Ottoman paintings and literature. Turkey is 99% Muslim but has a more liberal attitude toward gay life compared to other Islamic countries. Even so, most Turkish gays live a comfortable life not because of protective laws or liberal attitudes, but because they disguise their sexual orientation in a culture that allows for easy cover. Male-male camaraderie is very common in Turkish society. Turkish men hang out with other men; they routinely touch and caress each other and publicly walk arm in arm (but never hand in hand). Such habits are social norms and carry no undertone of being gay.
There are no legal proscriptions against consensual sex between adults 18 years and older, no matter what their gender. Police harassment is almost unknown and gay bashing extremely rare. Nevertheless, it is wise to be discreet and not engage in flamboyant kissing and so on in public, even if such behaviour is more likely to draw puzzled stares than any hostile reaction. Turkish society as a whole is as unprepared for public displays of gay affection as rural America or rural Europe. So, as a general rule, follow the example of the Turks and do as they do: behave in any way you like when you are inside a gay bar or nightclub, not when you are outside in public.
Tourist Traps and Scams
You should be careful with certain tourist hustlers along Istiklal Street and in Sultanahmet who are looking for foreigners to rip off. They would invite you to some tourist trap disguised as a bar or club in order to overcharge you. Such a bill can add up to 1000 Euros or more depending on how far you let your animal instincts lead you instead of following your intelligence.
A practical way to avoid these scams is to stick to the plans you made beforehand, and not to visit any 'gay' venues that are not recommended by your local host. No need to panic though, most scammers can easily be detected before they do any harm. They go straight to the point and rarely take the time to gain your trust before they rip you off. Our advice: walk away from strangers who suddenly appear too friendly for no obvious reason.
Attraction to the Exotic
You should always be careful but never let caution paralyse you. Caution is healthy as long as it does not prevent you from enjoying our City and its exotic beauty. Istanbul offers you the East, the West and everything in between, so be sure to enjoy it.Istanbul men are as willing to bed a tourist as any Westerner is willing to bed an exotic foreigner. The advantage of this mutual attraction is that you are likely to get a very warm reception in the city. The disadvantage is that Istanbulites know from experience that tourists pay generously for things they find attractive – so if you're an obvious foreign visitor, you're likely to have many rent boys zoom in on you, whether you’re looking for one or not. In this regard, be advised that high-class escorts rarely market themselves in nightclubs and bars; they do that on the internet.
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