Turkey Restricts Hormone Access for Trans Individuals Under 21,Citing “Year of the Family”
ISTANBUL,TURKEY – In a move sparking outrage from LGBTQ+ advocates,the Turkish Ministry of Health has imposed a nationwide restriction on hormone therapy for transgender individuals under the age of 21. A letter sent to the governorates of all 81 provinces on June 25th instructs officials to cease prescribing or reporting sex hormone medications – including testosterone, GnRH analogs, and high-dose estrogen – to “gender transition” [[1]].
While the Civil Code allows for gender-affirming surgery at 18, this new directive specifically targets access to hormones, a crucial component of many transgender individuals’ medical transition. The Ministry justifies the restriction by invoking the government-declared “Year of the Family,” framing access to hormones as a threat to “cultural and moral values” and citing Article 41 of the Constitution concerning the protection of family rights [[1]].
This isn’t the first instance of increased restrictions. Access to hormones was previously curtailed on Transgender Day of Remembrance last November [[1]].
Context: A Challenging Landscape for LGBTQ+ Rights in Turkey
Despite legal protections for citizens regarding rights such as freedom of assembly and expression [[1]], life for LGBTQ+ individuals in Turkey remains deeply challenging.Reports indicate a consistent threat of violence and discrimination against gay and transgender communities [[2]]. Public tolerance towards transgender individuals specifically remains low compared to international standards [[3]].
What This Means:
This new regulation will substantially impede the ability of young transgender individuals to access necessary medical care,potentially causing severe distress and negatively impacting their well-being.Critics argue the move is a politically motivated attack on transgender rights, leveraging conservative values for political gain.We will continue to update this story as it develops.
Keywords: Turkey, Transgender Rights, LGBTQ+, Hormone Therapy, Ministry of Health, Year of the Family, Discrimination, Human Rights, Gender Dysphoria.