Europeanization of Turkey and LGBTI Rights

Abstract

The European Union (EU) has established an advanced regime for non-discrimination and LGBTI rights have been included within this regime. EU candidate states are expected to be a part of this regime and launch Europeanizing reforms in the area. While, as an EU candidate state, Turkey is not immune from this, LGBTI rights have remained an area without any reform in the 2000s and even an area full with discrimination experiences. This article examines why there emerged no reforms during the increasing Europeanizing reforms in Turkey in the 2000s. The main argument is that the reasons of inertia in LGBTI rights in the 2000s' Turkey are the incapability of the EU for driving reforms and the negative mindset of the AKP regarding LGBTI-related issues.