Gay Cruise Denied Entry to Egypt After Turkey Ban

Egyptian authorities blocked the LGBTQ+ cruise ship Scarlet Lady from entering its waters, a decision confirmed recently. This action followed an earlier ban from Turkey, which prevented the vessel from docking in that country last month. Patti LuPone, who is performing on the cruise, shared her profound shock and outrage regarding these exclusions.

LuPone described the ship as "magnificent" and full of "gay men," expressing that the denial of entry was solely based on the passengers' identities. The cruise, an "epic all-gay voyage" organized by Atlantis Events, was scheduled to visit various Mediterranean destinations. Following the ban from Turkey, Egypt was added to the itinerary, only to be denied clearance at the last minute.