Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed his discomfort with what he described as “LGBT colors” being used at the United Nations headquarters. The U.N. was adorned with vibrant colors this week to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, which include global objectives such as eradicating hunger, addressing poverty, combating climate change, and promoting gender equality.
Erdogan reportedly mentioned his desire to discuss this matter with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to Turkish media sources. Turkey’s government, led by Erdogan and his AK Party, has taken a firmer stance against LGBTQ freedoms in recent years.
Erdogan’s statement read, “One of the issues that bothers me the most … is that when entering the United Nations General Assembly, you see the LGBT colors on steps and other places.” He also questioned the global prevalence of the LGBTQ community, saying, “How many LGBT are there in the world right now? However much right they have on these steps, those against LGBT have as much right as well.” Erdogan’s remarks have come amid increased rhetoric against LGBTQ individuals, particularly during his recent election campaign.
However, some U.N. diplomats have suggested that Erdogan may have confused the 17 different colors associated with the Sustainable Development Goals, which were used to decorate parts of the U.N. headquarters, with the rainbow Pride colors symbolizing LGBTQ rights. Contrary to Erdogan’s statement, there are no rainbow Pride colors at U.N. headquarters promoting LGBTQ rights.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights and has spoken out against discrimination. However, as of now, there has been no official response from Guterres or his spokesperson regarding Erdogan’s comments.
In Turkey, homosexuality is not a criminal offense, but widespread hostility towards LGBTQ individuals persists, and there have been increasingly stringent police crackdowns on Pride parades over the years. The situation reflects the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ communities in various parts of the world.
