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

[Holdonforsummer]

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

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.

It should not take a news headline to get you to avoid travel to countries that persecute people for not being heterosexual. Human rights checks should always be part of your travel research.

Every person has to draw their own lines, but their country their rules does not apply to basic human rights.

Oh if only the ‘when in Rome’ rule applied here instead of us all bending over backwards to fake a blind eye to the unevolved toxicity that’s walking our streets nowadays.

Of course I know some countries have homophobic attitudes but I feel this is taking things to a whole new level. And yes of course the UK denies entry to some people but you cannot compare it to this. What is Turkey going to do next - ask each individual person if they are gay and then deny them entry individually? It is madness. Maybe it is naive to boycott these countries but I think like rather do something than nothing which is why I started this thread. I am voting with my feet/passport/££££. I would have visited Turkey and Egypt before this, yes, but I won’t now.

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

What is Turkey going to do next - ask each individual person if they are gay and then deny them entry individually?

I don't think so. Why, have you heard it will?

If you go as an individual tourist and don't do anything in public that would offend them then presumably you'll be fine. A chartered cruise ship dedicated to LGBTQ etc is going to get a different response. Again, I totally agree it's homophobic and horrible and if I were in charge it wouldn't happen. I just don't understand how you can be surprised by it. Didn't you know what those countries are like about this?

Your attitude is very colonial.

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

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.

Oh the cultural enrichment they’d bring!

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

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

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

Alexandria is a pretty conservative city.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Why just Turkey and Egypt?

Isn't every Muslim country homophobic?

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

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.