Turkey bans LGBTQ cruise ship from docking at two ports

Turkish authorities have barred a cruise ship chartered for American LGBTQ travelers from docking at two of the country's ports, citing moral values and forcing a last-minute change to the vessel's Mediterranean itinerary. The decision affects the Scarlet Lady, a Virgin Voyages ship chartered by Atlantis Events for a 10-day cruise scheduled to depart from Greece on July 5.

The ship was originally scheduled to dock at the Aegean port of Kuşadası on July 7, followed by a stop in Istanbul. Officials in Turkey's Aydın province, where Kuşadası is located, released a statement saying the ship had been leased by groups known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values. The statement added there was absolutely no possibility of allowing the group to visit the province for an event of that nature.

Rich Campbell, the president and CEO of Atlantis Events, confirmed the ban and said it was the first time in the company's 36-year history that it had been denied permission to dock because of the identity of its passengers. Its pretty stunning, to be honest, Campbell told CNN. I mean, and the reasoning behind it is that its a gay group. He said the decision...