Role models of greatness.

Here you will discover the back stories of kings, titans of industry, stellar athletes, giants of the entertainment field, scientists, politicians, artists and heroes – all of them gay or bisexual men. If their lives can serve as role models to young men who have been bullied or taught to think less of themselves for their sexual orientation, all the better. The sexual orientation of those featured here did not stand in the way of their achievements.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Atatürk

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) was a great military leader, a social reformer, a persuasive and brilliant diplomat, a shrewd economist and the first president of the modern Turkish Republic. He was reelected fifteen years in a row, and the only reason he was not reelected for a sixteenth time was that he had drunk himself to death by the age of fifty-seven.

"A man born out of due season, an anachronism, a throwback to the Tartars of the steppes, a fierce elemental force of a man. With his military genius and ruthless determination, in a different age he might well have been a Genghis Khan, conquering empires."

Never in doubt of his abilities, the man excelled at every task he took on. Time and again he developed battle plans that succeeded against impossible odds. His triumph at Gallipoli against the British and Australians was nothing short of a miracle. As well, his powers of persuasion were legendary. I quote a speech he made to those whose family members or loved ones had lost their lives and lay buried on Turkish soil:

"Those heroes (who) shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us – where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You, the mothers who sent (your) sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."

Amazing, no? The Turkish War of Independence, which ended in 1922, was the last time Atatürk used his military might in dealing with other countries. Ensuing foreign issues were resolved by peaceful methods during his presidency.

During his days as a Military Attaché in Sofia, Bulgaria (1914-1915), he adopted western European dress for the first time, usually wearing a business suit with a vest, since he had been ridiculed for his fez and Turkish military attire. He was astonished that neighboring Sofia, so near to Turkey’s doorstep, boasted an opera house, theatre, national library and a ballet company. He determined then and there that Turkey’s future must be forged upon Western European models, and that it must shed its backward, Islamic traditions. A staunch agnostic, Macedonian-born Atatürk turned the Islamic Turkish nation upside down. After seizing control of the country he abolished centuries of Shari’ah (Islamic) law, eliminated the Caliphate, implemented the Western European calendar, sent the Sultan into permanent exile and ordered Islamic religious schools closed. He cracked down harshly on once-powerful religious orders, such as the dervishes.

But he was just getting warmed up. He opposed the Turkish government's decision to surrender to the Allies after WW I, so he organized an army of resistance, which successfully defeated the Allied occupation forces. Atatürk changed the name of Constantinople to Istanbul and established a Republic with a new capital in Ankara, a more centrally located city. Atatürk became the Republic's first president. He once more set his sights on reform by banning the veil and fez, leading by example; he strutted around in Panama hats and western business suits before a shocked public. He gave women the right to vote, thus making Turkey the first Muslim country to do so. He ordered men to appear in public with their wives – even to dance with them; prior to this decree most Turkish men had never before met each other's wives. In his spare time Kemal banned polygamy. Oh, I nearly forgot – he forced everyone to take a surname. His own surname, Atatürk (meaning "Father of the Turks"), was granted to him, and forbidden to any other person, in 1934 by the Turkish parliament. He abolished the use of Arabic script and replaced it with a Latin (West European) alphabet, at the same time making secular public education compulsory, even for women, thus thumbing his nose at centuries of Islamic segregation of the sexes.

"Fellow countrymen," he declared, "you must realize that the Turkish Republic cannot be a country of sheikhs or dervishes. If we want to be men, we must carry out the dictates of civilization. We draw our strength from civilization, scholarship and science and are guided by them. We do not accept anything else."

In a span of less than ten years he had resurrected a people with “Loser” stamped upon their foreheads into a force to be reckoned with, deserving of respect. He had the populace in his pocket and was nearly universally beloved by his people and respected by his enemies. To this day it is against the law to insult his memory or destroy anything that represents him. There is even a government website that polices and denounces those who violate this law, which has been in force since 1951. 
In 2007 the Turkish government blocked YouTube throughout the country for 30 months, in retaliation for four unflattering videos about Atatürk that alleged that he was a Freemason and a homosexual, citing a book printed in Belgium that is still banned in Turkey – international standards of free speech be damned. I don’t know about Freemasonry, but my research has shown that Atatürk was not a homosexual. He was bisexual and always preferred the company of men. I will quote a passage from this book – one of the most awkward and tortured examples of syntax I’ve ever read:

Women, for Mustafa, were a means of satisfying masculine appetites, little more; nor, in his zest for experience, would he be inhibited from passing adventures with young boys, if the opportunity offered and the mood, in this bisexual fin-de-siècle Ottoman age, came upon him.” (Patrick Balfour, Lord Kinross)

In short, this man engaged in occasional sexual dalliances with young men, yet he was briefly married to a woman.*  In the two biographies I have read, Atatürk comes across as an omnisexual, using sexual prowess as just another tool of intimidation, a man obsessed by conquest. If he had been a guest in my home, I’d have feared for my larger houseplants. His libidinous influence is felt today – Turkey is the only Muslim country where homosexuality is not against the law.

*He had seven adopted children: six daughters and one son. Ulku Adatepe, just nine months old when adopted by Atatürk, died last summer in an automobile accident at age 79. As a young girl she had traveled with her adoptive father as he traversed the entirety of Turkey to teach the new alphabet to his people. She was just six years old when Atatürk died.

All that off towards one side, Atatürk’s veneration has been constant since his death in 1938, nearly 75 years ago. His photograph appears on the walls of restaurants, shops, schools and government offices. His image is on banknotes, and nearly every Turkish town sports a statue or bust of the man. Your blogger knows this first-hand, since I have just returned from my second trip to Turkey this calendar year. At the exact time of his death, on every November 10, at 9:05 a.m., most vehicles and people in the country's streets stop for a minute of remembrance.

Update:  
In response to several readers' requests for specific resources attesting to Atatürk’s bisexuality:

Atatürk (1962) Irfan and Margaret Orga:
He had never really loved a woman. He was used to the camaraderie of the mess, the craze for handsome young men, [and] fleeting contacts with prostitutes, … His body burned for a woman or a boy...

Mustafa Kemal, An Intimate Study (1933) by H.C. Armstrong
Pages 253-254:
After divorcing Latife, ...he went back to the long nights in smoke-filled rooms with his drinking friends...after that he became shameless. He drank deeper than ever. He started a number of open affairs with women, and with men. Male youth attracted him...”

Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals – by Keith Stern (pub. 2009)

Achilles to Zeus (pub. 1987) by Paul Hennefeld

Atatürk: The Rebirth of a Nation (2001) by Patrick Kinross, a former British Diplomat

30 comments:

  1. Atta boi, Ataturk!! (couldn't resist)

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  2. "I'd have feared for my larger houseplants" -- will remember that witticism for quite a while

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  3. Rıza Nur wrote that Mustafa Kemal had a sexual intercourse with Vedat Uşaklıgil.

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    1. He was a very close friend of Mustafa Kemal. He was National Education Minister and he wrote an encyclopedia of Turkish history.

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    2. Riza Nur was the foremost gossip spreading nutjob of his time. And we also know that Ataturk fell in love with a number of woman, at the very least one of the daughters of the Sultan Mehmet VI and Fikriye Hanim. Also honestly, it wouldn't matter to me or most people who revere him in Turkey if he was gay or bisexual, we would love him just the same. Ataturk is more than simply who he was, what he achieved was more important than himself as a person, as he said so himself numerous times.
      If he was indeed bisexual, it would only matter to islamists in Turkey, because they would love to point it out trying to tarnish Ataturk's reputation with any truth or lie they can find, as these bigots and their following are homophobes, but they also love raping underage boys in the boarding schools they control in the countryside.
      (And some groups in other countries would also love to use him being bi or gay, like the ultra-nationalists in the neighboring countries, e.g Greece, Armenia or certain groups in the western countries that seem to have a weird grudge against Turks and anything Turkish. Although these might believe in a different religion, but their core mentality is not all that different from islamists in reality)

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    3. reply to anonymous...is that y 90 years on still geting protected by law your homo kemal ?no where in the world theres another dictator that still gets protected after death, only in turkey,,LOL.that kemal who brutaly barbaricly tortured killed Muslims only made hittler even say ( im a student off kemal ).

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    4. kemal was the first most brutal dictator off 20th centuary, that is why still protected under law in turkey, where you to mention anything seemingly bad, you will be prisond for life, no other dictator has achived this barbaric torture after his death..Thats the facts

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    5. This is nonsense. If he was a brutal dictator, he would not found the modem Turkish Republic and give rights to people. Read history.

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  4. A Great Article! Looking at it in my AP European History Class. Would you be willing to be a guest speaker?

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  5. What are you talking about? Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wasn't a gay or bisexual man.

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    1. Actually, Seyma, it is historically proven that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a bisexual man. Accept it and don't worry about it. It's not because you don't like this fact that it's not true. ;)

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    2. The proof he was Bisexual is overwhelming. The consequence of him being caught having sex with another man brought on his divorce. Dr. Riza Nur explains this in his biography. Dr. Riza Nur was very close to Mustafa Kemal.
      H.C. Armstrong in the bio Greywolf also Dwells in to his Homosexual encounters.
      The Europeans have known he was gay for almost a hundred years, while the Turks have been busy worshiping him like some
      deity or Apostle.

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    3. Seyma, did you ever wonder why there is a law in Turkey to protect his legacy???

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    4. Dear Anonymous, Dr. Riza Nur was not close to Mustafa Kemal. He was his opponent. After trying to overthrow him and the Kemalist league, he flew to France. His "memories" serve a personal hatred, and most probably other secret connections, as he must have had. But of course a good read, as he sums up all gossip of the time. One piece of propaganda is not a historical source, your naivity is toecurling.

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    5. He was a bisexual point. In Turkish the word they use among public is "İBNE".

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  6. That´s a great article. Mustafa Kemal Atatütk is my Role model and Elizabeth 1. is my Role model too. ;)

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  7. The Turkish,at least some of them cannot accept the historical truth that is proven here.This is the truth.

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  8. This is quite interesting and his sexual orientation clearly didn't affect his ability as a leader. I would be curious to know the exact references for Kinross since I have read most of his work on Ataturk and never came across this claim. We need to be aware that some religious people in Turkey being very homophobic create stories claiming Ataturk is homosexual as a way to degrade him. Again, secular Turks might not care about his sexuality since it would have been his private business; however, please be careful not to aid Turkish homophobes and Ataturk haters.

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    1. He openly hated Islam because he thought it was backwards and he was a homosexual. He was far ahead of his time. We should be proud oh him.

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    2. No wonder Gays in Turkey love him so much.

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    3. The Book published in Turkey is censored. This is The reason you cant see

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  9. fuck off ...
    Atatürk is the Manliest man in the world he save Turkey

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  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  11. Turkish History Association: https://books.google.com.tr/books?hl=tr&id=6JkKAQAAIAAJ&dq=atat%C3%BCrk+homosexual+vice&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=atat%C3%BCrk+homosexual+vice

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  12. A manliest man who can not control his alcohol addiction. If a bottle of alcohol controls a leader then I would be ashamed to associate myself with him let alone venerate him. A leader must be a leader of his ego and carnal desires. Than and only than I shall venerate and respect a leader

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  13. Queers in History"
    Famous gays comprehensive encyclopedia on page 79 Mustafa Kemal
    https://www.pdfdrive.com/queers-in-history-the-comprehensive-encyclopedia-of-historical-gays-lesbians-and-bisexuals-d162792449.html

    "Gray Wolf" H.C. Armsotrong
    It was translated into Turkish as "Bozkurt". M. Kemal's relationship with young men censored
    https://archive.org/details/GreyWolfMK/page/n255

    Atatürk: Biography of Mustafa Kemal, the Father of Modern Turkey
    Atatürk / The Rebirth of a Nation - Lord Kinross
    He wrote that M. Kemal had a homosexual relationship and that they censored it while translating it into Turkish.
    https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=Yw-xAAAIAAJ&q=atat%C3%BCrk+bisexual&dq=atat%C3%BCrk+bisexual&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlw43f2OrlAhWXQkEAHZv_BVE

    British Documents on Ataturk
    Ataturk in English Documents (Translation correction: It seems that this instilled in him a sense of contempt and disgust for life, banned marriage and pushed him to homosexual vices, and the son became extremely addicted to drinking.)
    https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=6JkKAQAAIAAJ&q=british+document+ataturk+homosexual&dq=british+document+ataturk+homosexual&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjZwPDK8v7rAhWQAQEwAHZ

    "Ataturk"
    Irfan Orga, Margarete Orga
    "Nowhere outsiders hadn't loved. He was used to fleeting relationships with young men and prostitutes."
    Page 20
    "His body was burned for a woman or a man."
    https://books.google.com.tr/books?redir_esc=y&hl=tr&id=ZmoEjwEACAAJ&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=contacts

    Save Us from Dictators! "Robert Clarkson Brooks 1935
    https://books.google.com.tr/books?hl=tr&id=3V8GAAAAMAAJ&dq=Deliver+us+from+Dictators&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=homosexuality

    "Gay Geniuses: Psychiatry and Literary Studies of Famous Homosexuals"
    William Howard Kayy Marvin Miller, 1965-223 pages
    Gay Geniuses are listed among homosexuals in Mustafa Kemal.

    International Journal of Greek Love
    The 53rd pride Kamal of the second issue of the International Greek Journal of Love (gay magazine)

    http://exitinterview.biz/rarities/ijglfull.htm

    Men and Cupid: Homosexuality and Reevaluation of Human Sexual Life in General
    Kamal in Men and Cupid: A General Reassessment of Homosexuality and the Sexual Life of Man
    https://books.google.com.tr/books?hl=tr&id=AU8eAAAAMAAJ&dq=homosexual+kemal&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=mustapha+kemal

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  14. Ataturk took a country by its roots and put it in the 20th century. Not an easy task and a great accomplishment on his part and the Turkish people. Unlike the Shah of Iran who did it all wrong and ended up with a country in revolution and a death in exile. -Rj

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  15. Amy handsome, smooth skinned Western Young Man Will be sexually hit on many, many times in Turkey & Really Any Muslim Country...Blond Marine Embassy Guards would Know!!! The Muslim Men Have a deeply-rooted Long Held Belief: " Girls Are For Making Babies & Boys Are For FUN IN BED!"

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