Fact Check: The LGBTQ community is a threat to the family, according to Turkish President Erdogan.

Fact Check: "The LGBTQ community is a threat to the family, according to Turkish President Erdogan."

What We Know

On January 13, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched the "Year of the Family," during which he made several statements regarding the LGBTQ community. He characterized LGBTQ movements as a significant threat to traditional family structures, asserting that they are part of a foreign conspiracy aimed at undermining Turkey's societal values. Erdogan stated, “It is our common responsibility to protect our children and youth from harmful trends and perverse ideologies,” and emphasized that the LGBTQ community is a target of “gender neutralization policies” that he believes aim to attack the family unit (AP News, NBC News).

Erdogan's remarks reflect a broader trend in Turkey, where the LGBTQ community has faced increasing hostility and repression. Pride parades have been banned since 2015, and anti-LGBTQ rallies have received state support (AP News, DW). Erdogan's government has also implemented financial measures aimed at encouraging traditional family growth, citing a declining birth rate as a national concern (NBC News, Daily Sabah).

Analysis

Erdogan's statements about the LGBTQ community being a threat to the family are consistent with his previous rhetoric and the actions of his administration. His framing of LGBTQ rights as a foreign threat is a tactic often employed by authoritarian regimes to consolidate power by rallying public support against perceived external enemies (PinkNews, Le Monde).

The sources reporting on Erdogan's comments are credible, including major news outlets such as the Associated Press and NBC News, which have a history of reliable reporting. However, it's important to note that some sources, like Daily Sabah, may have a pro-government bias, which could influence their portrayal of the LGBTQ community and the government's policies (Daily Sabah).

The backlash against the LGBTQ community in Turkey has been documented by various organizations and reports, indicating a systematic effort to marginalize this group. For instance, the LGBTQ advocacy group ÜniKuir reports significant increases in verbal and physical attacks against LGBTQ individuals, often fueled by government rhetoric (DW).

Erdogan's comments and the policies associated with the "Year of the Family" initiative are indicative of a broader cultural and political strategy aimed at reinforcing traditional family values while suppressing LGBTQ rights. This aligns with the government's historical stance against LGBTQ advocacy, which has been characterized by censorship and repression (Le Monde).

Conclusion

The claim that Turkish President Erdogan described the LGBTQ community as a threat to the family is True. His statements during the launch of the "Year of the Family" explicitly frame LGBTQ movements as harmful to traditional family structures and reflect a consistent pattern of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric from his administration. The evidence from multiple credible sources supports this conclusion, highlighting both the statements made and the context of increasing repression against the LGBTQ community in Turkey.

Fact Check: The LGBTQ community is a threat to the family, according to Turkish President Erdogan.