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# Turkish orchestra cancels countertenor, Bruno de Sá, after claims he looked ‘too gay’
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/turkish-orchestra-cancels-countertenor-bruno-de-sa-after-claims-he-looked-too-gay/
- Published: 2026-02-18T11:08:20.000Z
- Updated: 2026-02-18T11:08:20.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: Culture

The **Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey** has cancelled a scheduled performance with Brazilian countertenor **Bruno de Sá**, a decision that has fuelled concerns over the country’s tightening restrictions on LGBTQ+ visibility in public cultural life. 

The cancellation, [reported on **18 February**](https://slippedisc.com/2026/02/turkish-orchestra-cancels-artist-for-looking-too-gay/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) by classical‑music outlet ***Slippedisc***, was accompanied only by a brief, non‑specific statement from the orchestra, and requests for clarification reportedly went unanswered. The outlet noted that “word on the street” linked the move to a wider government crackdown on LGBTQ+ expression. 

Bruno de Sá, whose recent **Warner** release *Roma transvestita* has heightened his international profile, has yet to comment publicly on the cancellation. The incident has drawn increasing scrutiny from cultural observers who see it as part of a broader pattern of state‑aligned pressure on artistic institutions and performers.

The orchestra’s decision comes against the backdrop of a sustained and intensifying campaign against LGBTQ+ visibility in Turkey. Over the past decade, the country has experienced a marked erosion of protections and freedoms for LGBTQ+ individuals, with state rhetoric, police intervention and cultural censorship frequently cited by activists.

**Human Rights Watch** has documented a series of bans targeting LGBTQ+ public events, including a sweeping prohibition on LGBTQ+ activities in **Ankara** framed by authorities as necessary to “maintain public order”. Such bans have curtailed Pride gatherings and cultural events, contributing to an increasingly restrictive environment for LGBTQ+ communities.

Similarly, Istanbul’s once‑large Pride celebrations have faced repeated disruption and police obstruction. Documentation shows riot police dispersing demonstrators with water cannons and detaining participants at Pride marches. These incidents reflect a shift from tolerance to suppression in public policy and policing practices.

Reports indicate that homophobic rhetoric has increasingly permeated political discourse in Turkey. A CNN investigation described how homophobia has “festered” amid a climate shaped by **President Erdoğan**’s administration, with LGBTQ+ individuals painted as threats to national identity and morality. This hostile climate has included public attacks, arrests and inflammatory statements by officials.