Patti LuPone “Furious” That LGBTQ+ Cruise Ship Banned From Turkey Ports: “I Am Ready To Perform”

Well, Turkey has done it now.

By banning a cruise ship full of American LGBTQ+ travelers from docking in its country’s ports, Turkish authorities have drawn the wrath of Broadway’s formidable Patti LuPone.

In a scathing Instagram post this morning, LuPone, who has long been devoted to her equally enamored gay fandom, slammed Turkey’s latest homophobic move.

“I am shocked,” LuPone writes. “The Atlantis cruise I am performing on next week has been banned from entering Turkey. A ship – a magnificent ship – full of gay men. And me. Denied entry to Turkey simply because of who is on board. I am furious, but I am sailing, as the ship will make other ports of call. I am ready to perform for the the wonderful men on this Atlantis cruise, who deserve so much better than this.

CNN has reported that Turkish authorities banned the “Athens to Venice” cruise ship citing “moral standards” and “family values,” citing the CEO of the events company behind the Mediterranean tour.

The cruise, which departs from Greece on July 5, was expected to dock in the Turkish port town of Kuşadası two days later, followed by a trip to Istanbul, according to Atlantis Events, which is organizing the voyage.

“But in a controversial move,” CNN reports, “local authorities in Turkey said they have canceled the event as the ship – which is expected to host more than 1,000 passengers from the US – was chartered by groups ‘known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.’”

The cruise vessel is named Scarlet Lady and is owned by the Richard Branson-backed cruise line Virgin Voyages. Atlantis Events said it will now stop in Cairo, Egypt and the Greek island of Crete instead of Turkey.

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