THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF TURKEY: A BLESSING OR A CURSE FOR LGBT CITIZENS?

Abstract

Turkey has long been governed by constitutions prepared under the purview of military juntas. Promises of a new civilian constitution have given hope to different minority groups long suffering from either no recognition or misrecognition. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has been among the most afflicted minority groups in Turkey due to the lack of legal protection of their rights and liberties. In light of theoretical debates on LGBT equality and constitutions, this article offers insight into how support for LGBT equality emerged as a dividing line between the right and left sides of the political spectrum. The political dynamics that pose obstacles to the inclusion of a LGBT equality clause in the new constitution are also analyzed.