Turkish government blocks gay cruise carrying Americans from docking, citing ‘moral standards’

Turkish authorities have blocked an LGBTQ+ cruise carrying mostly American travelers from docking in the country, citing “moral standards” and “family values,” according to CNN.The 10-day “Athens to Venice” cruise, organized by Atlantis Events, was scheduled to depart Greece on Sunday and stop in Kuşadası, Türkiye, two days later before continuing to Istanbul. Instead, the Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady will now stop in Cairo, Egypt, and Crete, Greece, Atlantis said.Related: Yet another passenger dies on world’s biggest gay cruiseLocal authorities in Türkiye said they had canceled the “event” because the ship had been chartered by groups “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values,” CNN reported.The decision affects about 1,900 passengers, including roughly 1,100 from the United States, Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, told the network. Other travelers are expected from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.“It’s pretty stunning, to be honest. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that it’s a gay group,” Campbell told the network. See on Instagram “It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not,” he added.Campbell said it was the first time in the company’s 36-year history that Atlantis had been “actively told we may not berth here because of who we are.” Atlantis informed passengers Thursday that the Türkiye stops had been removed “due to circumstances beyond our control,” after Turkish authorities canceled the port calls.“This is not a political organization,” Campbell said. “We are not there for anything except to spend money, have a good time, take tours and be incredibly respectful to every culture we visit.”Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who is scheduled to perform on the cruise, condemned the decision in an Instagram post Friday.“I am shocked,” L