On July 7, Turkey blocked the Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady cruise ship from docking in Kuşadası, carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers, including Broadway star Patti LuPone. Local authorities cited the ship’s presence as not aligning with the country’s moral values.
Details of the Cruise and Blockade
The Scarlet Lady embarked from Athens, Greece, on July 5, aiming for a ten-day journey organized by Atlantis Events, a company specializing in LGBTQ+ cruises. The ship was scheduled to visit Turkey, with stops planned in both Kuşadası and Istanbul.
However, the Aydin province authorities issued a statement declaring the cruise's cancellation, stating that it had “sparked significant public concern.” They emphasized, “There is absolutely no possibility of the group in question visiting our province for an event of this nature.”
Patti LuPone's Reaction
Upon learning of the blockade, Patti LuPone expressed her outrage on Instagram, stating, “The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey... Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board.” She affirmed her commitment to perform for the passengers, who, in her view, deserved better treatment.
LuPone, a 77-year-old Tony Award winner, highlighted the absurdity of the situation, emphasizing the cruise’s purpose was not political or a protest, but merely a vacation for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Historical Context of LGBTQ+ Rights in Turkey
Although homosexuality is not criminalized in Turkey, the country has faced criticism for its treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has often made derogatory remarks about LGBTQ+ communities, referring to them as “perverts.”
Historically, Istanbul Pride parades have been met with hostility, having been banned since 2015. Atlantis Events has previously docked LGBTQ+ cruises in Turkish ports without incident, with this blockade marking a significant deviation from their 36-year history.
- 2000 passengers on board
- Patti LuPone performing on the cruise
- Scheduled to dock on July 7
- First-time blockade for Atlantis Events
Rich Campbell, CEO of Atlantis Events, expressed his astonishment at the decision, stating, “It’s pretty stunning... It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not.” The cruise will now reroute to Cairo and Crete instead.
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Guardian Culture. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
