This article examines the ways various institutions in Turkey are engaging with sexual and gender minority refugees who have been displaced as part of the refugee crisis. The article first examines the discursive representations of queer and LGBTQ refugees and the impact of these representations on global and local responses to sexual minority displacement in Turkey.
The author argues that while attempts to mainstream diverse SOGI protection strategies is needed and important, more research is needed into the safest and most effective ways to do so. The Turkish case study demonstrates that attempts to mainstream may inadvertently further exclude or put queer displaced persons at greater risk. The article highlights the dearth of research in this area and presents conceptual tools that may enable international actors to better engage with and respond to sexual minority refugees.
