Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To boycott Turkey and Egypt after homophobic action against cruise ship?

208 replies

Holdonforsummer · 09/07/2026 16:48

Now Egypt has turned away a cruise ship full of LGBT passengers, following in the footsteps of Turkey who had already barred them from docking. Egyptian authorities haven’t stated an official reason but Turkey clearly stated it was because the passengers on the ship didn’t confirm to their society’s ‘moral’ standards. I find this disgusting and outrageous that any country thinks they can start to pick and choose which categories of tourists they will and won’t accept. I for one will now boycott Turkey and Egypt and will not book holidays there in the future. I refuse to support homophobic regimes and feel that the only thing that might change their mind is if many other UK citizens do the same.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/09/lgbtq-cruise-ship-refused-entry-egypt-turkey?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

OP posts:
CagedBirdInACage · 09/07/2026 22:30

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/07/2026 22:13

I would rather be dead than live in either of those countries. They respect gay people but are morally bankrupt when it comes to imprisonment for children.

They don't let gay people get married in Israel, the same as Egypt and Turkey so I'm not sure how much respect they have for gay people either tbh.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 22:30

In some gay countries, they subject suspected gays to intimate examinations to determine whether they have engaged in sodomy. There are plenty on here who are rooting for their football teams in the world cup.

OakleyAnnie · 09/07/2026 22:28

Astonishing. Yesterday I read a thread about an 8 year old girl who called a 13 year old boy a gay boy. There was such outrage here about this 8 year old ‘homophobe’ who has been called a bitch. Many pp agreed and said she was disgusting. Today dozens of you are defending ME countries for their laws against LGBT rights. I’m reading ‘their country, their rules’. Do you folks really not have the guts to condemn these countries? Why is that? Reminds me of how the grooming gangs got away with it for so long because no one wanted to be called racist.

ChalkOutlines · 09/07/2026 22:27

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/07/2026 22:11

It is against the laws in those countries.
These are countries where you will find horrendous human right violations, slavery, murdering the gay community who live there.
I would never visit these countries.

It is not illegal in Turkey. It hasn’t been since 1858, a hundred odd years before it stopped being illegal in England.

While not specifically illegal in Egypt either, gay people do get arrested under prostitution and debauchery laws.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2026 22:25

DeflatedHeliumBallonz · 09/07/2026 22:08

If you look on X at LGBTQIA+++ (🙄) protesters being faced with this fact they practically implode with rage.

They just cannot fathom that if they went to gaza with blue hair, a septum ring and started snogging another woman they would be murdered. Any sane person knows and accepts it.

Watch Pride.

Gay people have a history of supporting oppressed groups regardless of whether they are supported in turn. Fucking noble. Even if Palestinians aren't woke, they don't deserve to have their babies deliberately shot through the head.

It's not denial. It's basic human rights.

The same way I support women's rights. Including women who probably hate me.

CagedBirdInACage · 09/07/2026 22:25

RuinartRuination · 09/07/2026 22:02

Was thinking the same thing actually. All the LGB & TQ+ support for Palestine (Hamas), a group that would think nothing of publicly hanging gay people for “immoral activities”

Boycotting is a legitimate form of peaceful protest. I''d always encourage people to take part in peaceful protest for causes they feel strongly about.

Sorry quoted a post by accident there.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/07/2026 22:13

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 22:04

They have a pride parade in Tel Aviv, they don't have one in Gaza City. O know where I would prefer to be LGBT.

I would rather be dead than live in either of those countries. They respect gay people but are morally bankrupt when it comes to imprisonment for children.

BrinkWomanship · 09/07/2026 22:12

It’s only this latest thing that makes you want to boycott these countries?! I think you need to read more.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 09/07/2026 22:11

It is against the laws in those countries.
These are countries where you will find horrendous human right violations, slavery, murdering the gay community who live there.
I would never visit these countries.

Noodledog · 09/07/2026 22:08

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 22:04

They have a pride parade in Tel Aviv, they don't have one in Gaza City. O know where I would prefer to be LGBT.

Would be interesting to know if anywhere in the middle east apart from Israel hold pride parades

FunStork · 09/07/2026 22:08

Why just Turkey and Egypt?

Isn't every Muslim country homophobic?

DeflatedHeliumBallonz · 09/07/2026 22:08

RuinartRuination · 09/07/2026 22:02

Was thinking the same thing actually. All the LGB & TQ+ support for Palestine (Hamas), a group that would think nothing of publicly hanging gay people for “immoral activities”

If you look on X at LGBTQIA+++ (🙄) protesters being faced with this fact they practically implode with rage.

They just cannot fathom that if they went to gaza with blue hair, a septum ring and started snogging another woman they would be murdered. Any sane person knows and accepts it.

Noodledog · 09/07/2026 22:06

Jk987 · 09/07/2026 21:46

It’s a government decision. It doesn’t mean that all the citizens of those countries are homophobic.

Not all the citizens will be homophobic, but it would be incredibly naive to think that the vast majority won't be homophobic.

RuinartRuination · 09/07/2026 22:06

marcopront · 09/07/2026 20:09

So you won’t boycott countries for having homophobic attitudes unless they make public announcements about them?

You’d have to boycott most of the world in that case. Certainly all Muslim majority countries.

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 22:04

RuinartRuination · 09/07/2026 22:02

Was thinking the same thing actually. All the LGB & TQ+ support for Palestine (Hamas), a group that would think nothing of publicly hanging gay people for “immoral activities”

They have a pride parade in Tel Aviv, they don't have one in Gaza City. O know where I would prefer to be LGBT.

RuinartRuination · 09/07/2026 22:02

likelysuspect · 09/07/2026 18:15

Most ME regimes do not support homosexuality.

I always wonder about the juxtaposition of views like OPs against the majority support in the UK for the Palestinian 'state'.

Was thinking the same thing actually. All the LGB & TQ+ support for Palestine (Hamas), a group that would think nothing of publicly hanging gay people for “immoral activities”

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 21:56

There are parts of the USA where an openly gay couple would not be welcome.

Jk987 · 09/07/2026 21:46

It’s a government decision. It doesn’t mean that all the citizens of those countries are homophobic.

TheChaffinch · 09/07/2026 21:44

I can't understand why you are surprised?
There are many, many countries where this attitude is the norm. Some wouldn't ban entry but homophobia is mainstream.
Nothing on earth would persuade me to go to either of those countries anyway.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/07/2026 20:36

Everyone female, disabled or gay should always be cogniscent of attitudes and law before travelling. I just booked accommodation where me and my female friend can book one room but they don't allow unmarried couples.

If you travel, the point is it's not the same. Sometimes that's wonderful. Sometimes it's not. And almost everywhere is a mixture. Telling other people how to live is some colonist shit. Go or not. But if you go, seek to understand.

Or stick your fingers in your ears and expect Bognor but sunny.

nomas · 09/07/2026 20:25

burnoutbabe · 09/07/2026 19:04

Isn’t this cruise a particular charter by Atlantis for predominantly gay men to enjoy. Which is often accompanied by a higher than usual level of drugs and overdoses (per reports elsewhere). Definitely clothing optional!

a normsl virgin cruise is very gay friendly anyway, they have not been turned away. This is just a fully chartered cruise. Slightly different

not that I am saying it’s right but this is a very Specific type of cruise. A lot of leather jock straps per the posts on Instagram.

The article says the 2000 guests on the boat are mostly men.

Alexandria is a pretty conservative city.

Kalanthe · 09/07/2026 20:21

Egypt is an authoritarian regime ruled by a dictator. Human rights are broken there every day. Gay cruise ship being turned away is the least of the issues with this country. Never in the world would I got there

Cooshawn · 09/07/2026 20:20

And do you think this stance has just come about now?

Charys · 09/07/2026 20:17

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 09/07/2026 20:13

So they wanted to rock up to the Sphinx in their dog masks and posing pouches?

Oh the cultural enrichment they’d bring!

greenpolkadot55 · 09/07/2026 20:16

I don't agree with this horrible decision.
But you not visiting these countries isn't going to make any difference to the tourist economy.

Swipe left for the next trending thread