Turkey's Erdogan blames the LGBT community for falling birthrate
ISTANBUL, May 24 — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a national population crisis, announcing sweeping efforts to counter a steep decline in the country's birthrate. Speaking at the International Family Forum in Istanbul, Erdogan unveiled plans to mark 2026–2035 as the “Decade of the Family and Population,” while controversially blaming the LGBT community for undermining traditional values.
“Our country is facing a grave threat,” Erdogan said, citing newly released figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) showing the fertility rate has dropped to 1.48 children per woman—well below the replacement threshold of 2.1. “This is not merely a statistic—it’s a warning,” he added, calling the demographic shift a “disaster” that demands immediate action.
The president, who has long championed pro-family policies, urged Turkish families to have at least three children. “In recent years, we have taken important steps to encourage this,” he said. For comparison, the average number of children per Turkish woman stood at 2.38 in 2001.
Erdogan, a devout Muslim and father of four, has repeatedly raised alarm over Turkey’s shrinking population. Just last month, he described the trend as “a threat much more significant than war.” Earlier this year, he designated 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” further emphasizing his administration’s demographic focus.
During his speech, Erdogan also reignited attacks on the LGBT community—a recurring theme of his 2023 re-election campaign. He described LGBT activism as a “deviant movement” that has become a form of “fascism and oppression,” claiming it seeks to suppress opposing ideologies.
He went on to warn against efforts to blur gender identities, asserting that “degendering projects threaten our national security.” Erdogan accused some opposition parties and women’s organizations of supporting such initiatives and vowed his government would “fight against them with great commitment.”
The remarks have sparked backlash from rights groups and critics who accuse Erdogan of scapegoating marginalized communities to push a conservative social agenda.
As Turkey grapples with demographic challenges and political polarization, Erdogan’s latest push for traditional family values is expected to further inflame debates over gender, identity, and national priorities.
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