Crossing Continents

The Pink Certificate


Listen Later

There's a Turkish saying that every man is born a soldier; and in Turkey every man is conscripted for military service of up to 15 months. There is no alternative to this; Turkey does not recognise the concept of conscientious objection. But one group of people are exempt - homosexuals. Their presence in the army is deemed damaging to morale and operational effectiveness. But the process by which homosexual men are asked to prove their sexual orientation is arbitrary and humiliating. Some are asked to provide pornographic photographs of themselves with their partners; others, photographs of themselves dressed as women. This is also a problem for the military psychiatrists who have to compromise their professionalism by "diagnosing" someone as homosexual, despite the fact that homosexuality is no longer regarded internationally as a medical disorder, although it once was. In "The Pink Certificate" Emre Azizlerli lifts the lid on the only country within the NATO military alliance to discriminate against homosexuals in this way. Among his interviewees are gay men who have been humiliated in various ways during the application process for exemption, as well as another man, who wanted to join the military despite his homosexuality and enjoyed a varied sex life during his period of service. Emre also meets a psychiatrist who discusses the ethical dilemma he faced while in the army and being asked to "diagnose" gay men, and a well-known conscientious objector who went to prison for his principles.

Producer: Tim Mansel.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Crossing ContinentsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

74 ratings


More shows like Crossing Continents

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,685 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

366 Listeners

More or Less: Behind the Stats by BBC Radio 4

More or Less: Behind the Stats

897 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,044 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,433 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,791 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

951 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,794 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,100 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,923 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

508 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

108 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

45 Listeners

File on 4 Investigates by BBC Radio 4

File on 4 Investigates

40 Listeners

The Bottom Line by BBC Radio 4

The Bottom Line

34 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

298 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

67 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

745 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

843 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

163 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

69 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,178 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,185 Listeners

The Great Post Office Trial by BBC Radio 4

The Great Post Office Trial

36 Listeners