Türkiye taking steps against gender-neutrality, LGBT movements: Erdogan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday used his address at the Family and Culture-Arts Symposium in Ankara to voice concern over what he called growing pressures on the traditional family structure.

Speaking at the event, Erdogan said his government is taking steps to counter what he described as “gender-neutrality impositions and LGBT movements,” adding that Turkey would not allow any “leniency” on issues it views as a threat to family values.

He said the state considers family protection a priority at a time when, according to him, global capitalism, cultural influence from abroad and expanding digital platforms are creating new challenges.

Erdogan also pointed to a deepening demographic concern, noting that official figures show the national fertility rate fell to 1.48 last year. He described the situation as a “disaster” for the country’s future and said that anyone invested in Turkey’s wellbeing “cannot remain unconcerned.”

Earlier this year, Erdogan declared that the period from 2026 to 2035 would be marked as Turkey’s “Decade of Family and Population,” an initiative he announced during the International Family Forum in Istanbul.