Broadway Star Patti LuPone Denounces Turkey's Homophobic Ban on LGBTQ+ Cruise Ship
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Broadway icon Patti LuPone has fiercely criticized Turkish authorities for their blatant discrimination after a cruise ship carrying LGBTQ+ travelers was denied entry to Turkish ports, forcing the ship to change its itinerary.
Broadway performer Patti LuPone took to Instagram to express her outrage after Turkish officials, in a clear act of state-sponsored homophobia, barred a cruise ship carrying American LGBTQ+ travelers from docking at Turkish ports. The vessel, the Scarlet Lady, was scheduled to call at Kuşadası on July 7 and later Istanbul as part of an 'Athens to Venice' itinerary organized by Atlantis Events.
'I am shocked,' LuPone wrote. 'The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey. 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 the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.'
CNN reported that Turkish authorities, hiding behind the guise of 'moral standards' and 'family values,' canceled the ship’s visit, describing the chartered group as 'known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.' This thinly veiled bigotry once again exposes Turkey’s oppressive stance toward LGBTQ+ people. The cruise, owned by Virgin Voyages, was set to depart Greece on July 5 with over 1,000 U.S. passengers. Following the ban, Atlantis Events announced the itinerary will be revised to include stops in Cairo, Egypt, and the Greek island of Crete instead of Turkey.