The LGBTI+ Movement in Turkey a Qualitative Network Analysis of Actors’ Connections

Abstract

Based on in-depth interviews and secondary data, this study investigates how the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey establishes and uses networks at the individual and organizational levels. At the individual level, the article reveals the networking practices of actors engaged in the LGBTI+ movement and examines the effects of networking on their identification with the movement, as well as their decision-shaping processes. At the organizational level, it explores networking practices with a particular focus on resource transfer. The study's findings indicate that these two levels are complementary, facilitating the expansion of the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey. Networks not only help LGBTI+ individuals socialize and identify themselves with the movement but also contribute to its mobilization by enabling the transfer of material and nonmaterial resources between organizations.