Turkey Blocks LGBTQ+ Cruise from Docking, Citing Moral Standards

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Turkish authorities have prohibited a U.S.-based LGBTQ+ cruise from docking in their ports, citing 'moral standards' and 'family values.' The cruise, organized by Atlantis Events, was scheduled to depart from Greece on July 5 and stop in Kuşadası and Istanbul. With over 1,000 expected passengers from the U.S., the cruise will now reroute to Cairo and Crete instead. This decision reflects Turkey's increasingly restrictive stance on LGBTQ+ rights, as seen in the cancellation of Pride marches since 2015. Atlantis Events expressed concern over the implications of such discrimination against tourists.
Key Details: • Cruise departs from Greece on July 5, 2023. • Original stops in Kuşadası and Istanbul have been canceled. • Passengers will now visit Cairo, Egypt, and Crete, Greece. • Over 1,100 of the 1,900 expected guests are from the U.S.