• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Turkish authorities denied permission for Scarlet Lady to dock at Kusadasi and Istanbul this week, according to the ship's charterer, Atlantis Events, a leading US-based provider of LGBTQ+ vacations.
Instead, Atlantis substituted calls at Alexandria, Egypt and Heraklion, Crete.
According to CNN, "moral standards" and "family values" were behind Turkey's decision, citing Rich Campbell, president & CEO, Atlantis Events.
Homosexuality is not illegal in the country, however CNN noted President Tayyip Erdogan's party has adopted increasingly harsh rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community, sparking condemnation from human rights groups.
In an Instagram post, Patti Lupone, the headline entertainer for the cruise, expressed her outrage: "I am shocked ... A ship — a magnificent ship — full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for all the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this."
Scarlet Lady embarked July 5 in Piraeus, visited Mykonos on Monday and is at Santorini today. Following the substituted Alexandria and Heraklion calls, the cruise is scheduled to call Dubrovnik and Zadar before ending in Trieste July 15.
