"The Secrets of The Boys": Analyzing Homosexuality: Perceptions and Regulatory Frameworks in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey (The Past, Present and Future)

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire's approach to homosexuality has often been misunderstood and misrepresented. This research aims to shed light on the historical and cultural context of homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire and Turkey, using a historical methodology. Contrary to popular belief, homosexuality was not strictly forbidden in the Ottoman Empire, even under Islamic law. The Islamic empires, including the Ottomans, shared a cultural resemblance to ancient Greeks, where relationships between older and younger men, known as "amrad," were prevalent. While sultans were known to have both women and young boys in their harems, the regulation of homosexuality was absent from the penal code since 1858. Interestingly, during the "Tanzimat period" (1839-1876), when the Empire embraced Western influences, conservative values led to the stigmatization of homosexuality. After World War II, Turkey aligned itself with the global order, signing international declarations and conventions on human rights. However, in recent years, there has been a shift in the Turkish government's stance, with the current president expressing opposition to supporting gay individuals. This study intends to explore the past, present, and future of homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire and its subsequent transformation in the Turkish state.