Gay Cruise, starring Patti LuPone, Denied Entry into Turkey

LuPone posted on Facebook that the Atlantis cruise she is scheduled to perform on is being denied the ability to dock in Turkey allegedly because it is a gay cruise.

You’d think the former Mayor Adams would have a little sway here considering his new ties to Turkey.

John Adams said: ""
For myself, I would not want to be in a foreign country where if, for any reason I should be detained (righteously, or un-), my personal security might be at risk. Being banned from entry is a good thing because it eliminates the risk to Gay passengers' safety and security.

Honestly, this was my first response. I follow someone on BlueSky who is on this cruise who posted about it yesterday, well before Patti did, and I didn't know why they would want to go to Turkey, and thought they would be safer this way. It sounded like they started/are in Greece and will now continue on to the preplanned Crete and Cairo (...😬) instead of the Turkish stops.

Updated On: 7/3/26 at 02:32 PM

Interesting that she omitted the "well-heeled" part from her Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/pattilupone/p/DaUkpPyCosk/

MemorableUserName said: "Interesting that she omitted the "well-heeled" part from her Instagram post.

https://www.instagram.com/pattilupone/p/DaUkpPyCosk/"



I was able to scroll through the comments and a Turkish resident slams her for her ship of "White Privileged" gay men not caring about what they go through there in Turkey but wanting to just party there. (I paraphrased). I am assuming she read that and omitted "well heeled".

Updated On: 7/3/26 at 03:05 PM

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Beyoncé launches resorts in Dubai.

Are (some) people really lacking in any awareness whatsoever about gay rights globally?"



You have mentioned her doing this before. She is not the only American who has performed there. Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert have performed there among others. And she doesn't launch "resorts". She did the launch for one resort. Why keep bringing her up? And really, what does that have to do with this cruise?

uncageg said: "Jay Lerner-Z said: "Beyoncé launches resorts in Dubai.

Are (some) people really lacking in any awareness whatsoever about gay rights globally?"



You have mentioned her doing this before. She is not the only American who has performed there. Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert have performed there among others. And she doesn't launch "resorts". She did the launch for one resort. Why keep bringing her up? And really, what does that have to do with this cruise?

"

It illustrates how perceptions can trump reality. How blind we can be. Gay rights issues swept under the rug for financial gain.

Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert were not launching resorts owned by oligarchs who prop up the current regime, as far as I know. What Beyoncé did was next-level.

My husband and I went on an Atlantis cruise several years back, before there was a Virgin cruise line, when they were still contracting Celebrity ships. The itinerary included a stop at Istanbul, which didn't appeal much to me, but Atlantis assured us it was safe. There was a welcome station done up in the typical rainbow balloons and bunting, but it quickly became apparent that the objective was to get passengers into rug and lamp stores. We had an unpleasant and vaguely threatening encounter with a very pushy salesperson, ducked into a Starbucks to escape him, and then swiftly returned to the ship as soon as he was gone. It's not a place to which I'd return.

OT - I know, but how long can we discuss this before it becomes just plain ol' Patti-bashing...

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Although they cater primarily to Gay men, Lesbians are also welcomed. As just one example of the kind of care they take to ensure satisfaction, they offer this policy on their website for women:

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Updated On: 7/3/26 at 04:47 PM

ColorTheHours048 said: "Sir, this is a Wendy’s."

Huh? The comment was entirely on-topic. Bizarre response on your part.

Patti is an ally.

Beyoncé may be an ally of "our" LGBTQ+ communities, but certainly not Dubai's.

Words have meaning, HG.

John Adams said: ""furious" - fine.

Who wouldn't be? But who is she furious with?

Anyonecan do an internet search on "Is Turkey gay friendly?" and see very quickly that booking a stop in Turkey for an all-Gay cruise is "iffy" regarding passenger safety and security.

For myself, I would not want to be in a foreign country where if, for any reason I should be detained (righteously, or un-), my personal security might be at risk. Being banned from entry is agoodthing because it eliminates the risk to Gay passengers' safety and security.

Yes - it's an absolutely horrible situation, but it's the reality of being Gay in Turkey. If Ms Lupone is going to be furious with anyone, it should be Atlantis Cruise Lines for being so inattentive in regards to their passengers' security. If they had been, there might not have been a scheduled stop in Turkey, and consequently no banned entry to be "furious" about.

I'm also alittlebit off-put by her need to include the descriptor "well-heeled". Is that an important factor that makes a difference?"

European gays travel to Turkey quite a bit. It's a secular country, part of EU and NATO. Idk what's the situation there now given far right swings everywhere in Europe and western world in general. I suppose Turkey feels emboldened too now that LGBTQ right are being dismantled everywhere.

Edit: my bad, Turkey is still not part of the EU

Updated On: 7/3/26 at 05:57 PM