President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey has raised concerns about what he perceived as LGBTQ colors being used at the United Nations this week, where the organization was adorned with vibrant hues promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to Reuters reports.
Erdogan has expressed his desire to discuss this issue with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as reported by Turkish media. Notably, Erdogan’s government, led by his AK Party, has recently taken a more conservative stance on LGBTQ rights and freedoms.
The Turkish president was quoted as saying, “One of the issues that bothers me the most… is that when entering the United Nations General Assembly, you see the LGBT colors on steps and other places,” in remarks reported by broadcaster Haberturk and others. He went on to state, “How many LGBT are there in the world right now? However much right they have on these steps, those against LGBT have as much right as well.” Erdogan has previously used strong rhetoric against LGBTQ individuals, particularly during his recent election campaign.
However, some UN diplomats have suggested that Erdogan may have confused the 17 distinct colors associated with the Sustainable Development Goals, which adorned parts of the UN headquarters, including its steps, during a summit held earlier this week, with the rainbow Pride colors symbolizing LGBTQ rights.
It’s essential to clarify that there are no rainbow Pride colors displayed at the UN headquarters to promote LGBTQ rights. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights and has addressed issues of discrimination.
As of the present moment, there has been no official response from a spokesperson representing Secretary-General Guterres concerning President Erdogan’s remarks.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals, unanimously adopted by world leaders in 2015 with a target deadline of 2030, represent a global agenda aimed at addressing critical issues such as eradicating hunger, ending extreme poverty, combating climate change, reducing inequality, and advancing gender equality.
In Turkey, homosexuality is not legally considered a crime, but societal prejudice against it remains widespread, and law enforcement’s approach to Pride parades has become increasingly strict over the years.
