DIGITAL RIGHTS AND GENDER ISSUES. THE CASE OF THE LGBTQIA+ TURKISH COMMUNITY.

Digital rights are essential terms to define freedoms, privacy, and limitations on the internet. Its structure aims to protect the fundamental rights of individuals in the digital environment. For that reason, the thesis aims to investigate the range of digital rights and its studies on the concept of gender in the matter of the law of equality and its impact on the LGBTQIA+ community. In this work, the LGBTQIA+ community has been a key focus across the broad spectrum of gender definitions. While gender definitions are still discussed in the digital world, the position of the community sought to be clarified. Therefore, the first chapter illuminates definitions concerning gender and related issues, particularly concerning communicative spaces and opportunities, the principle of equality, and policies of digital governance concerning the gender issue. Since the historical evaluation of the community is considered as a crucial aspect of the thesis, the second chapter is dedicated to understanding their identity as a community. The LGBTQIA+ community, which everyone who feels like they belong can be a part of, was explained in the smallest details, from rainbow flags to the expansions of their names. The place of technology in the evolution of the community is highlighted. Eventually, the thesis seeks answers to these questions: 'How digital world created or defined the LGBTQIA+ community’s rights? The community is comfortable with their online experience in light of digital rights and communication? Are they able to find a place for themselves, their activities, and their rights? What are the impacts of the digital world on the LGBTQIA+ community and their presence? How are the gender roles shaped or reshaped over time with more features of the digital world?’ The final chapter is dedicated to the case study of Türkiye. Therefore, the research continues to answer; ‘How Digital Communication reflects the digital rights of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Türkiye?’ and finally ‘What are the challenges and opportunities of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Türkiye regarding Digital rights and Communication?’ The methodology of the thesis depends on literature reviews, academic articles, and online journals. After seeking an answer to these questions, the thesis sums up the ideas by analyzing the effectiveness of Digital Communication regarding the LGBTQIA+ Community in Türkiye.