[jacooper]

Because the locals don't want to, and you know it.

Ask anybody in the streets about their opinions of gays, and you shall get your answer.

It may be fundamental freedom for you, but for them its an outrageous act that deserves punishment.

Don't like it, don't stay there, simple.

[blhblah12345]

Meanwhile, Turkish men are the most metrosexual in the world, and let's just say it 's easier to get laid in Taksim than it is in the Castro. I feel that Istanbul is actually a far gayer city than San Francisco, but everybody stays in the closet in order to survive.

You have a funny concept of free.

If I am not free to be exactly who I am, then I am not free.

If I am forced to follow a religion under penalty of death, I am not free.

If I am forced to not leave that religion under penalty of death, I am not free.

If I am forced to be straight, I am not free.

A free nation allows everybody to be free, not just the mainstream.

[alephnerd]

I've heard that from a couple Gay friends actually. They've had a better time in Istanbul's GLBT scene than in the US (though they are Latino in origin and I've heard American Gay culture has a bit of a race problem)

[jacooper]

Then don't.

The entire point of democracy is it allows commoners to decide regulation, and you bet that if there was ever a true democracy in the Arab world, gays won't be welcome in it either.