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groundloop

(14,069 posts) Mon Jul 6, 2026, 09:05 AM Jul 6

Turkey blocks cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and a 'furious' Patti LuPone, citing 'moral values'

Source: The Guardian

A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and the Broadway performer Patti LuPone has been blocked from entering Turkey after local authorities said their behaviour didn’t “align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.

Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady set sail from Athens, Greece, on 5 July for what was billed as “an epic all-gay voyage” over 10 days run by Atlantis, a US company that puts on cruises and vacations for LGBTQ+ people.

The Scarlet Lady was expected to dock in the Turkish port town of Kuşadası on 7 July, followed by a trip to Istanbul.

But authorities in Turkey’s Aydin province, where Kuşadası is, published a statement online saying the cruise was chartered “by groups known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/06/turkey-blocks-lgbtq-cruise-ship-citing-moral-values-ntwnfb

12 replies

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Highlight:

Turkey blocks cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and a 'furious' Patti LuPone, citing 'moral values' (Original Post) groundloop Jul 6 OP

Turkish society is mostly Muslim luv2fly Jul 6 #1

This appears to be a new escalation by Turkiye. Anyway, the ship is now going to Egypt. Eugene Jul 6 #2

All religions suck b4lls wolfie001 Jul 6 #7

There's a wonderful meme with Maggie Smith, all decked out in her Downton Abbey wardrobe. Talitha Jul 6 #9

Yes! wolfie001 Jul 6 #10

Turkey lecturing anybody on moral values is rich. Ritabert Jul 6 #3

I hope Turkey LOSES lots of $$$. riversedge Jul 6 #5

Yes! Ritabert Jul 6 #8

assholes Blues Heron Jul 6 #4

"Atlantis has docked gay cruises in Istanbul and Kuşadası 13 times in the last 25 years" dalton99a Jul 6 #6

Hello? Roy Rolling Jul 6 #11

Hundreds of Women Are Killed Every Year Because Turkey Refuses to Acknowledge Domestic Violence DrFunkenstein Jul 6 #12

luv2fly

(2,817 posts)

1. Turkish society is mostly Muslim

Reply to groundloop (Original post)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 09:18 AM

Jul 6

This really shouldn't surprise people, and the organizers of the cruise apparently didn't do their research.

Eugene

(67,504 posts)

2. This appears to be a new escalation by Turkiye. Anyway, the ship is now going to Egypt.

Reply to luv2fly (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 09:29 AM

Jul 6

tourist revenue facing rising "family values" religious backlash

wolfie001

(8,325 posts)

7. All religions suck b4lls

Reply to Eugene (Reply #2)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 11:57 AM

Jul 6

If they just prayed in their "houses" of worship, fine, but they go out and f6ck everything up. It all starts nice and kind and innocent and the next thing you know: auto-da-fé.

Talitha

(8,295 posts)

9. There's a wonderful meme with Maggie Smith, all decked out in her Downton Abbey wardrobe.

Reply to wolfie001 (Reply #7)

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 01:58 PM

Jul 6

It says:

"My dear, religion is like a penis. It's a perfectly fine thing for one to have and take pride in. But when one takes it out and waves it in my face, we have a problem."