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

The quesrion isn't about the rights of citizens like apartheid or Saudi. It's about holidaymakers. Totally different conversation.

I’m sure they’ll miss you!

It’s not the same at all. You should read some of the more knowledgeable comments. But hey, don’t let the facts get in the way of your prejudice

Maybe she thinks both ! I certainly do...

Tell that to the person bringing in Palestine. No one mentioned Palestine until they did, so why accuse people?

Being gay isn't a 'lifestyle' anymore than being straight is, but I agree with your overall point.

It was Gaza that was brought into the conversation first wasn't it? Do you know why that was too? I thought it was odd considering there is hardly cruises to Gaza, gay or otherwise.

Ofc they're entitled to ban, it doesn't make it right. They should be criticised.

Was apartheid, or Saudi Arabia banning women from voting, to name 2, also 'their country, their rules'?

Oh hi nomas. We've been expecting you. Actually you're late.

Ofc they're entitled to ban, it doesn't make it right. They should be criticised.

Was apartheid, or Saudi Arabia banning women from voting, to name 2, also 'their country, their rules'?

So Israel not allowing gay marriages to be performed = fine

Other ME countries not allowing it = not fine.

Bizarre logic.

It's a tough one. Gay people can't live how they want, but you specifically mention gay men. All women in a lot of countries can't live how they would want, but we aren't giving asylum to women and girls to stop them being forcefully married, raped and honour etc killed. A gay man not having sex is living a much better life than any of the child brides.
Some religions are homophobic, sexist, extremist and will kill to uphold their beliefs. Why is that a surprise?

Come on, it's a bit disingenuous to put places like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey etc in the same category as the UK and most of Europe. The safety and rights of women, religious groups, ethnic minorities, gay people and people generally are wildly different.

Oh hey. Another thread derailed to shoe horn in Palestine. Well done.

I'm surprised that you think it's OK that gay people can't get married in Israel if you are so hot on spotting prejudice?

Crazy how pressed some posters get at facts. Why can people point out facts about other countries but if you do it about Israel you must be prejudiced?

What about lesbians? If someone suspects someone is lesbian, they might be correctively raped, forced to marry etc They don't need necessarily to have had sex or a relationship for that. Gay men also, or they might be honour killed.

I agree that the situation of women & girls needs much more attention.

Of course it isn't.

Going on a mostly male gay cruise is a lifestyle choice. As is going on a couples only or OAPs only holiday, or adults only. I'd assume thousands of LGBT people travel to countries with varying laws all the time. I do as a woman!

I don't do PDAs with my DH in many countries. That's lifestyle, while our sexuality isn't.

It might also surprise you to know, OP, that according to the UN's own statistics (not that I'm a fan of the UN), around 85% of women and girls in Egypt have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). But no one ever mentions it, for some reason.

Further, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on South-East Turkey estimated that between 355,000 and 500,000 people, mainly of Kurdish origin, were internally displaced during security operations in 2015–2016. The report also raised concerns about killings, destruction of housing, restrictions on movement, and lack of humanitarian access. Again, no one's cares.

Both countries have really fucking dodgy human rights records. And yet, if there are obnoxious, loud, angry, belligerent marches clogging up central London every other weekend over either of them, I must have missed them. If only I could put my finger on what this selective outrage is all about... but it just escapes me. 🤔

Never mind, I hear Pride in Tel Aviv is pretty damn good, so I'd tell the attendees of the cruise to give that a try instead.

Yeah surely.
I wonder what the sti and hiv rates are in turkey.

Exactly. No one even mentioned Israel until the weird attempt to justify hatred to Palestinians.

Most people in Israel are ok with gay people being out etc. The main issue is the religious only marriage system which causes other issues too.

Unclear whether she was being mean or repeating something she’d heard. The mother of the boy was convinced it was the former. The girl was given a much harder time (here) than countries that execute gays. Go figure

We absolutely should. And I've been on FWR saying as much about Afghanistan.

Agree re the cruise.

I suspect people suspected of being gay might also have been detained without a cruise, but probably a singles cruise for straight people would have also been barred.

Ofc they're entitled to ban, it doesn't make it right. They should be criticised.

Was apartheid, or Saudi Arabia banning women from voting, to name 2, also 'their country, their rules'?