Non-Normative Childhood in Heteronormative Order

This study examines the childhood experiences of LGBT+ adults who were born and raised in Turkey and spent their childhood and adolescence in Turkey within the framework of family, friendship, education, life, and social spheres. The research group consists of 11 participants aged between 18 and 30, 10 of whom are still living in Turkey and 1 of whom moved abroad in adulthood. The participants were selected by snowball sampling method. The research was conducted based on a phenomenological design, which is a qualitative research method. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. The findings reveal that the participants were exposed to gender norms in their family, friends, educational, and social environments and that this significantly affected their self-discovery processes from an early age. It was determined that the ‘coming out’ processes and social acceptance of the participants spread over a long period of time. The research highlights the urgent need for structural reforms to protect the rights of LGBT+ children and increase social acceptance.