Why This Topic Landed in Japan
An LGBTQ+ event cruise built around the banner of "updating your values" was flatly rejected in a religiously conservative Islamic region, and that framing fused with a domestic Japanese backlash against what many see as "diversity being forced on them." Video circulating of the revealing scenes aboard pushed the discussion toward "this is about dress and decorum, not homosexuality itself," and the dominant reaction was to sympathize with the host countries' decision rather than the organizers'.
Key Reaction Themes
- Criticism of "decorum and dress," not the identity — Rather than the passengers' sexual orientation, most commenters targeted the revealing outfits and onboard behavior, arguing the trip disregarded the host countries' religious norms.
- Sympathy for the ports' decision — "Of course, it's an Islamic country" and "the refusing countries aren't the ones in the wrong" — many treated the rejection as legitimate given the cultural and religious context.
- A smaller strand of defense and detachment — A few pushed back with "update your values," while others just shrugged it off as "looks fun."
What Japanese Netizens Are Saying
A 2,000-passenger LGBTQ+ cruise refused entry by Turkey and Egypt
A cruise ship carrying roughly 2,000 LGBTQ+ charter passengers was turned away, one after another, by Turkey and Egypt, both citing moral grounds.
LGBTQの乗客約2,000人を乗せたクルーズ船が、わずか1週間の間に2カ国から入港を拒否された。 最初に拒否したのはトルコで、「道徳的価値観」を理由に、クルーズ船「スカーレット・レディ」のクシャダスおよびイスタンブールへの寄港を認めなかった。 Show more
🇹🇷🇪🇬 A cruise packed with nearly 2,000 LGBTQ passengers just got turned away by two countries in one week. Turkey said no first, refusing to let the Scarlet Lady dock in Kuşadası or Istanbul over "moral values." So it rerouted to Egypt, which took one look and said no thanks
Sources: 2ch
Comments:
- "Forget gay or not — the outfits alone are just too vulgar."
- "Even if the people aboard were straight men and women, a 'hookup ship' like this would be out of line. It's got nothing to do with LGBT."
- "On this one, I've got to admit Islam is in the right."
- "Japan should follow their example."
- "To ordinary people, it's the same as a ship hijacked by criminals."
- "You never know what diseases they might bring in."
- "Why do they even show up in a big group like that?"
- "So they do at least wear underwear, huh."
- "They look like they're having a blast. Living their best lives, honestly."
- "Update your values already."
