Public Opinion of Transgender Rights in Turkey

W. Luhur, C. Engin

This report presents information on public opinion about transgender people and their rights in Turkey. The data has been analysed from the 2017 Global Attitudes Toward Transgender People survey, Turkey panel, to provide new information on views toward transgender people, their rights, and their status in society. There is a great deal that we do not know when it comes to the status of the transgender population in Turkey. Most research that focuses on transgender individuals in Turkey is derived from small sample sizes. Although limited, this research provides us with valuable information regarding the status of transgender individuals in Turkey, indicating that they are at high risk for experiencing violence and discrimination at the individual level and discrimination and inequality at the institutional level. Transgender women, in particular, are likely to experience discrimination due to their gender identity, thereby limiting their employment opportunities and increasing their likelihood of engagement in the sex industry. This, in turn, makes them even more susceptible to hate crime victimization and/or verbal, sexual, and physical abuse.