Turkish President Erdoğan Denounces 'Global Degenderization' at UN Amid Domestic LGBT Crackdown
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for global resistance against “degenderization policies,” arguing that the traditional family composed of a man and a woman is under systematic siege. His remarks came one week after Turkish authorities launched a sweeping nationwide police operation code-named “My Family is Safe” (Ailem Güvende) targeting LGBTQ+ organizations and activists. The address was reported on September 22, 2026, by the independent Turkish outlet Bianet.
Speaking before world leaders, the Turkish president asserted that global policies recognizing diverse gender identities endanger marriage and “innocent children.” “Global policies of degenderization have turned into a siege targeting the family institution alongside innocent children. We can only break this siege by protecting the family composed of a woman and a man,” Erdoğan declared from the UN podium. He added that Turkey “will continue to take initiative in protecting families and children despite the attacks of lobbies.” Although the president did not explicitly use the term LGBTQ+, diplomatic observers and Turkish media noted that his phrasing directly mirrored the rhetoric employed by Ankara to justify the recent mass arrests of rights defenders.
Erdoğan’s UN appearance coincides with ongoing judicial proceedings across Turkey. According to Reuters, courts have remanded 82 people into custody under the “My Family is Safe” operation, while over 100 demonstrators were detained during public protests. Earlier, judicial authorities blocked access to the websites and social media accounts of prominent LGBTQ+ organizations, including Kaos GL and LambdaIstanbul, and Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced formal investigations into foreign funding received by civil society groups. The clampdown has drawn sharp condemnation from the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and an international coalition of rights organizations representing 65 countries.
Beyond family-related rhetoric, the bulk of Erdoğan’s General Assembly address focused on the Middle Eastern crisis and multilateral governance reform. He urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, broad international recognition of an independent Palestinian state, and structural reform of the UN Security Council, repeating his long-standing argument that global peace cannot be held hostage to the five permanent members. Additionally, Erdoğan reiterated support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, called for international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and proposed a binding UN convention to govern artificial intelligence.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leader of the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP), has long advanced a conservative social agenda: in 2021, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention on violence against women, and Pride demonstrations have faced blanket municipal bans. Previously, Uránia reported in detail on the launch of operation “My Family is Safe” and the blocking of major LGBTQ+ resources across 15 Turkish provinces.
