Istanbul Transgenders

Istanbul transgender, transvestite, shemale, tranny and ladyboy guide. Information about transvestite bars, shemale clubs, tranny shows, transexual solidarity organizations, trans cruising areas in Istanbul

 

Transgender Life in Istanbul

Transgender people, like gay and lesbian people in Istanbul, are more visible in the most liberal districts of Istanbul, such as Şişli, Beyoglu and Taksim. Many of them live in nearby neighborhoods, such as Cihangir, Tarlabasi, Elmadag, Harbiye, Nisantasi and Kurtulus. Majority of the Turkish transgender individuals in Turkey are shemales who do not have sex-change surgeries, but they take female hormones, have silicone breasts, get cosmetic procedures, epilate, etc. and they look like transsexual women from the outside. Sometimes, some queer gay men also dress up as crossdressers and go to various gay or trans clubs on weekend nights, especially on Saturday nights.

Trans Bars and Clubs in Istanbul

Istanbul used to host around 6-7 transgender clubs before internet and mobile apps gained popularity in the 2010s. Today, only a few trans-friendly clubs remain, as listed below.

Before visiting a shemale club in Istanbul, you should also be aware of the local customs. Although the trans women at these clubs are not official staff members; their role is to socialize and encourage guests to buy them drinks. If a girl joins you at the bar or your table, it is expected that you pay for her drinks as well. If you wish to go out with them, ensure you discuss and agree on the terms beforehand.

Sahra Club (24:00-05:00)
Sadri Alisik Sokak, No: 42 Beyoglu Istanbul.
Click here for reviews, location map and more
Sahra, a prime example of Istanbul’s underground LGBTQ+ culture, is perhaps the most audacious among gay and transgender nightclubs. There might be hustlers here as there could be in any transgender hang-out place, so you'd better not go there with a lot of cash money and watch your wallet well.

Super Fabric (23:00 - 04:00)
Cumhuriyet Cad.i No: 42  Elmadag, Istanbul
Click here for reviews, location map and more
Even though the majority of the clients are gay men, Superfabric is also a very transgender-friendly venue, where you can often see see crossdressers, shemales and trans women. It is located within 10 minutes' walking distance to the north of Taksim Square, on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, which leads towards the Harbiye/Sisli districts, roughly across from the Konak Hotel.

Recently Closed

The trans clubs are no more as popular as they used to be after the internet became widespread. Consequently, most of the venues closed down or changed their concept in recent years.
Bahriyeli Pub - This venue has been closed for good in 2022
Club 17 - Closed during Covid 19 period
No Name Club - Closed down in 2018

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Transgender Cruising

Unfortunately, most transvestites and transsexuals resort to prostitution, because they face difficulties in finding regular jobs outside of nightlife, entertainment and music industries. There are certain streets and highways in Istanbul where transvestites and transsexuals frequently gather at night. They engage in sex work, often cruising around Tarlabasi Boulevard and the main street between Taksim and Şişli, especially after midnight. These cruising areas are generally unsafe, so it’s advisable not to carry large amounts of money that you wouldn’t mind losing. Additionally, there are some backstreets in the Beyoglu and Sisli districts where they reside collectively in various buildings, such as Kucuk Bayram Sokak, Ulker Sokak. Many of them also live scattered across liberal, middle-class neighborhoods like Harbiye, Elmadag, Nisantasi, and the notorious Tarlabasi quarter in Beyoglu.

Transgender Dating Applications

Members of the Turkish transgender community are also easily accessible on mobile LGBTQ dating applications. Nowadays, Hornet is the most popular dating app among the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey, especially since Grindr was banned for not filtering pornographic content. Today, almost every Turkish gay man, along with many transgender individuals and bisexual men can be found on Hornet. Other alternatives include Taimi, Planet Romeo and Tinder. As with anywhere else in the world, it is wise to be cautious when meeting people through these apps. You may also encounter many rent boys on these gay dating platforms.

Transgender Solidarity

As a direct result of being unavoidably visible, the Turkish transgender community faces more challenges. Probably for this reason they struggle for their rights and support each other more militantly compared to the local gay and lesbian individuals. However, they are often portrayed negatively by the mainstream media due to their determined resistance against the law enforcement forces.

There are no specific laws against LGBT people in Turkey, but transgender people face a lot of public pressure and discrimination. Transsexuals can get women’s ID cards officially after gender affirmation surgery, based on a report from a panel of doctors, and they have the same rights as women, including marriage since the early 80's. Transsexuals are represented by the city’s main gay & lesbian organizations, Lambda Istanbul and SPoD. There is also another group called Pembe Hayat (Pink Life) that focuses more on Transgender rights, but it is located in Ankara.

Click here to read more detailed article on LGBTQ life in Turkiye

Trans Friendly Beauty Parlors

Click here for a complete list of gay LGBT friendly shopping guide of Istanbul.

Turkish Transgender Celebrities

There are several well-known Turkish transgender celebrities and social media figures, with Bülent Ersoy being the most prominent. In 1981, she underwent gender-affirming surgery while already a major star. Despite facing significant challenges, she persevered and successfully obtained legal recognition as a woman in the late 1980s. Other notable trans women include singer & actress Ayta Sözeri, talent manager Seyhan Soylu, former "actor" Meli Bendeli, businesswoman & influencer Selin Ciğerci, and model & influencer Beren Güney. There are also several transgender male celebrities in Turkey, such as Rüzgar Erkoçlar and Doruk Doğrusöz

Click here for a full list of famous Turkish LGBTQ celebrities.

ISTANBUL GAY TOURS

Are you a gay man visiting Istanbul for the first time? Are you a stranger to the gay world of this mysterious mega-city? You surely need somebody to lead you the way during your first few days.