Okay Leo, let's chat about something super important and close to many hearts LGBT+ friendliness! We're diving into Bulgaria and Turkey this time. Ooh! Think of it as comparing sunshine and… well, let's see! Hehe!
LGBT+ friendliness, huh? Right up there with debating which coffee is less likely to give you heartburn. Hmm! Bulgaria and Turkey… One's in the EU, the other, well, likes to wave at the EU from across the border. Aha! Let's see how that plays out for rainbows.
Exactly! Bulgaria, being part of the EU, has got to have some rules in place, right? Like, aren't they supposed to be all about equality and stuff? I'm picturing sunshine and rainbows in Sofia! Ooh! Maybe even a parade with amazing costumes! Hahaha!
Sunshine and rainbows in Sofia… Mira, you're picturing Eurovision, not necessarily everyday life. Hehe! Legally, Bulgaria does have some antidiscrimination stuff, yeah, thanks to the EU. But, culturally… let’s just say if you’re looking for a passionate Pride parade, you might be slightly underwhelmed. Hmm!
Underwhelmed? Oh no! But Pride is all about celebrating, right? Surely there’s some kind of celebration? Even a small, cute one? Like a little picnic with rainbow flags and maybe some traditional Bulgarian dancers doing a very enthusiastic hora? Ooh!
A "cute" Pride picnic… Mira, you’re adorable. Hehe! There is Sofia Pride, bless its heart. It happens, people show up, they wave flags. It’s… present. Let’s just say it's not quite on par with, say, Madrid Pride, which is basically a weeklong citywide party. Ahhh! Think “quietly supportive” rather than “riotously celebratory”.
Quietly supportive… Okay, I get it. Like a shy smile across the room instead of a fullon hug? Hehe! But hey, a smile is still a smile, right? And every little bit of support helps! We can’t all be throwing glitter cannons all the time! Ooh! Maybe Bulgarian Pride is more about… thoughtful reflection on progress?
"Thoughtful reflection"... Mira, you’re spinning gold out of straw here. Hahaha! Let’s just say, in Bulgaria, you're less likely to get physically attacked for holding hands with your samesex partner than, say, in some other places… baby steps, darling, baby steps. Ahhh! It’s more like a polite nod of acknowledgement from society, rather than a roaring cheer.
Polite nod… Okay, I’m picturing a very polite Bulgarian gentleman in a welltailored suit giving a very subtle nod of approval. Hehe! But what about Turkey? We’re shifting gears completely now, aren’t we? From polite nods to… well, what’s the vibe in Turkey, Leo? Whoa!
Turkey… Right, hold onto your rainbow flags folks, we're about to take a turn. Whoa! Remember that “wave at the EU” comment? Yeah, well, on LGBT+ rights, Turkey's waving goodbye in the opposite direction. Aha! Officially secular, but increasingly… let’s just say “traditionallyminded”. Hmm!
“Traditionallyminded” is code for… less sunshine and rainbows, right? Ouch! So, are we talking more like… grey clouds and maybe a drizzle of… disapproval? Oops! I hope I’m not being too gloomy! Hehe!
Gloomy is… accurate. Let’s put it this way, Istanbul Pride used to be one of the biggest in the region. Massive, vibrant, full of life… Then, poof! Vanished. Banned. Suddenly, public displays of rainbowness became… frowned upon. Ouch! More like actively discouraged by tear gas and riot police, sadly.
Tear gas and riot police? Whoa! That’s… not a polite nod. Ouch! That’s more like a… very firm, very loud, “NO RAINBOWS ALLOWED!” stomp of disapproval. Whoa! So, Pride in Turkey is… not really a thing anymore? That’s so sad! Ooh!
"Not really a thing anymore" is putting it mildly. It’s more like an underground whisper. People still try to gather, of course, brave souls. But they’re often met with… resistance. Let’s just say, if you're planning a romantic stroll handinhand in Istanbul as a samesex couple, maybe stick to quieter streets and avoid any public… enthusiasm. Hmm!
Quieter streets and avoid public enthusiasm… That sounds… limiting. Ahhh! Like having to dim your own sparkle just to feel safe? That’s just not fair! Ooh! Everyone deserves to sparkle! Even in Istanbul! Wow!
"Everyone deserves to sparkle," says Mira, queen of sparkle. Hahaha! Look, socially, in Turkey, it’s… complex. Big cities are more tolerant than rural areas, sure. But even in Istanbul, you might encounter… let’s call it “uncomfortable stares” or worse. It really depends on who you are, where you are, and who's looking. Hmm!
“Uncomfortable stares” sounds like the polite version of… something much less polite. Ouch! So, for LGBT+ folks, choosing between Bulgaria and Turkey… it’s kind of a nobrainer, isn’t it? If you want to feel… acknowledged and maybe even a little bit celebrated, Bulgaria sounds like the… slightly less grey cloud option? Ahhh!
"Slightly less grey cloud option" – I like your optimistic spin, Mira. Hehe! Look, legally and socially, Spain is like a sundrenched beach, Bulgaria is like a cloudy but still pleasant park, and Turkey is… well, let’s just say it’s raining and you forgot your umbrella. Aha! For LGBT+ travellers, and especially for LGBT+ people considering living there, Bulgaria offers a degree of legal protection and social acceptance that Turkey, sadly, just doesn’t right now.
Rainy without an umbrella… That’s… a bit depressing, Leo. Ouch! But important to know. So, if you’re watching this on YouTube and you’re thinking about travelling or moving… maybe do a bit more research, especially if LGBT+ friendliness is high on your priority list. And hey, if you like this podcast, give us a like! It’s like a little rainbow flag of support for us! Ooh!
Exactly, folks! A like is like a tiny virtual Pride parade marching right onto our YouTube channel! Hahaha! And if you want more insightful, and occasionally depressing but always truthful, comparisons like this, subscribe! We’re here for you, thanks to jetoff.ai, bringing you the real deal, even when the deal involves grey clouds and forgotten umbrellas. Ahhh!
Yes! Jetoff.ai making sure we can bring you the sunshine and the rain clouds of country comparisons! So helpful! And remember, whether you’re in sunny Spain, cloudy Bulgaria, or… somewhere else entirely, keep sparkling! Ooh! And maybe pack an umbrella, just in case! Hehe!