Turkey’s President Erdogan launches “Year of the Family,” targets LGBTQ Community

From Our Correspondent
Last Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan initiated Turkey’s “Year of the Family” while criticizing the LGBTQ community and announcing initiatives to increase birth rates.
He emphasized the importance of strong families for a robust state, unveiling financial support measures for young families.
Erdogan reiterated his previous claims about LGBTQ individuals, framing their movement as a foreign conspiracy threatening Turkey. He stated, “It is our common responsibility to protect our children and youth from harmful trends and perverse ideologies,” emphasizing the need to combat neoliberal cultural influences.
He argued that gender-neutral policies use LGBTQ issues to undermine family structures.
Erdogan claimed that criticism of LGBTQ movements is stifled, similar to the suppression of legitimate critiques of Zionism, stating, “Anyone who defends nature and the family is subject to heavy oppression.”
Despite being relatively low-profile, the LGBTQ community has increasingly faced government hostility.
Since 2015, Pride parades have been banned, with participants met by police force, while anti-LGBTQ demonstrations have gained state backing.
Addressing Turkey’s concerning population decline, Erdogan remarked that the nation is “losing blood,” recalling his call for families to have at least three children.
Moreover, he emphasized the urgency of addressing this demographic issue.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of encouraging larger families.
Erdogan’s comments underscore the need for proactive measures to combat population decline
He noted that later marriages and rising divorce rates contribute to this issue.
Additionally, the growth rate plummeted from 2.53% in 2015 to 0.23% last year.
Erdogan’s comments highlight the urgency of addressing these demographic challenges.
He warned that without appropriate measures, the situation could become irreparable.
To address the family threat, he revealed initiatives such as interest-free loans for newlyweds and enhanced monetary support for new parents.
Additionally, he introduced affordable childcare options to encourage family growth.
Moreover, these measures aim to alleviate financial burdens on families.