In 2021, D.K, a young student embarked on a journey from the UAE to Istanbul carrying the hope of a more accepting environment of their LGBTQ identity. Born and raised in the UAE, they were open about their identity among friends, who always surrounded them with support and understanding. However, the transition to life in Istanbul presented unexpected challenges.
Initially lured by the promise of high-quality education and an immersive academic life, they soon discovered the reality was far from it. The international school they arrived at, which professed to follow an American curriculum, was deeply rooted in Islamic principles. Here, their physical appearance of short hair and ripped jeans became a subject of discrimination, and their identity was a topic of speculation. When D.K went to their guidance counselor as a minor who struggled to deal with the environment that discriminated their queerness, they were faced with warnings that their identity could get in the way of their graduation. This forced them to hide their identity in fear of jeopardizing their future.
To D.K, graduation brought a sense of liberation from the oppressive atmosphere of high school which they were shocked with when they came to Istanbul.
University life was a “light at the end of the tunnel” for them, providing a space to express themselves freely without fear of discrimination.
Despite the inclusive university environment, D.K mentioned that the second they stepped outside the university’s gates, they felt alienated and judged by certain societal groups in Istanbul. The stares and whispers that they had often received by elders, whether it be judging their piercings or short hair, reminded them that they were still in a society in which their identity was not completely accepted.
However, when we asked them about their experiences back in the UAE, they mentioned that younger generation’s openness to the LGBTQ+ community offered some solace, but the older generation’s resistance and the country’s harsh laws against queer individuals made them fear for their future and not be able to express their identity freely.
Coming out in Istanbul was a cautious process to them, with only a trusted friend being accepting of D.K’s true self. Her unwavering support and lack of pressure upon them were a source of comfort amidst the fear of broader disclosure, a fear rooted in their traumas of high school.
When asked about the intersection of their identities as an international student and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, D.K expressed a sense of disconnection. The duality of their existence was sensible—free and authentic in one setting, yet concealed and conforming in another. This dichotomy was a source of internal conflict for them in a city that joins between the global East and West, with a complicated bridge between the two worlds.
Looking ahead, D.K. holds a hopeful vision for Istanbul’s LGBTQ+ community. They said that they believe that outdated mindsets will fade, giving way to a generation ready to lead a movement of inclusivity. Their optimism foresees a safer and more welcoming environment for all queer individuals, a future where acceptance is the norm, and diversity is celebrated.
After everything they have gone through, D.K’s experience in Istanbul as an international member of the LGBTQ+ community shows their resilience and strength with their multicultural background. D.K believes that “As Istanbul evolves, so too does the hope for a brighter, more inclusive society that will enable LBGBTQ+ individuals to live in peace.”