Turkish gay couple lose their jobs, receive death threats after symbolic wedding

A Turkish gay couple have lost their jobs, evicted from their home and are facing death threats from their family for choosing to get 'married'.

Ekin Keser, 21, and Emrullah Tüzün, 27, say they are afraid for their lives after choosing to commit to each other in a symbolic wedding.

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The couple wed on a ferry in Istanbul in September. While it had no legal significance, they hoped publicizing it would challenge views.

'My family and siblings threaten me with death. When our wedding was featured in the news, our family and friends began rejecting us,' said Tüzün, adding their landlord threw them, their dog and two cats.

He said he also used to work as a waiter in Istanbul's Kad?köy district.

'When the threats increased, my boss learned about the situation and I was laid off,' Tüzün told Hurriyet Daily News.

'Ekin is not working, as he is an undergraduate student. I was the only breadwinner, but I lost my job.'

Both men have received death threats on social media, but the biggest reaction has come from their families.

'We have received the biggest reaction from our families. My family knew that I was homosexual, but they reacted against my marriage,' said Keser.

Speaking to KAOS GL, Keser was asked why they attempted to have a symbolic wedding in a country as homophobic as Turkey.

He said: 'Yes, there have been people from certain circles who had this kind of an attitude, but what made our wedding ceremony special for us was the realization of our dream. Our happiness and excitement was too intense to describe.

'If it were understood in Turkey that we too are persons, we would have the very rights that are granted to married heterosexual couples. I sincerely believe that this will happen.'

He said he also used to work as a waiter in Istanbul's Kad?köy district.

'When the threats increased, my boss learned about the situation and I was laid off,' Tüzün told Hurriyet Daily News.

'Ekin is not working, as he is an undergraduate student. I was the only breadwinner, but I lost my job.'

Both men have received death threats on social media, but the biggest reaction has come from their families.

'We have received the biggest reaction from our families. My family knew that I was homosexual, but they reacted against my marriage,' said Keser.

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