In the midst of the crowd of students rushing to their classes in the city of Istanbul where cultures intertwine and histories converge, we had the privilege to sit down with a remarkable individual who shared their journey as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and an international student in Istanbul. As we delved into their experiences, it became evident that their story sheds light on the interplay between identity, culture, and acceptance in their experience.
The person being interviewed is a student who is bisexual and comes from Iran but grew up in Kuwait. They talked about how different it is for LGBTQ+ people in Istanbul compared to their home country and Kuwait. In Kuwait, queer individuals face the constant fear of being deported, leading most queer individuals to be wary about exposing their sexual identity. As for Istanbul, although there are still difficulties, legalities are not as much of a concern when it comes to being queer.
Initially, our interviewee didn’t openly discuss being bisexual because they didn’t see many other queer people in Istanbul. It felt like they were invisible because there weren’t many openly LGBTQ+ individuals around. So, they only shared their feelings with close friends they trusted. Even though there were LGBTQ+ groups, like the Rainbow Club at their university, concerns such as family and society had them hesitant when it came to participating. “I would love to be a more prominent part of the community and participate, but I consider my safety to be more important and unfortunately, I’m left with no choice but to stay out”, they said.
While navigating the cultural landscape of Istanbul, our interviewee encountered a mix of attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals. While some displayed open-mindedness and acceptance, others cast judgmental glances, which could be traced back to either religious or traditional reasons or beliefs. Of course, this further contributes to the societal barriers faced by queer individuals in a city with a cultural and religious clash of opposing poles when it comes to religious and cultural viewpoints.
Even though they endure hardships daily due to both their queerness and their Middle Eastern identity, there were also moments of hope for our interviewee. They mentioned that one of their professors, who is transgender, was of great support and mentorship to them during their student life and gave them a sense of security and acceptance which they said was never found after moving to Istanbul. This gave them a “sense of hope, acceptance and belonging”.
Although LBGTQ+ groups are somewhat represented by various human rights associations in Istanbul, there is unfortunately much work to be done regarding the freedom and safety of queer individuals in the city. Our interviewee mentioned that they are hopeful but still cautious when it comes to openly portraying their queer identity in Istanbul in the future.
They see progress happening slowly, but they worry that things could go backward too. This shows how complex the queer identity is for LGBTQ+ people in Istanbul.
As Istanbul continues to evolve as a multicultural hub, the narratives of individuals like our interviewee serve as a testament to the enduring pursuit of acceptance, belonging, and love, transcending borders and boundaries. Through dialogue, empathy, and collective action, may we pave the way for a future where diversity is celebrated, and LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive unapologetically in all corners of the globe.