THOUSANDS of homophobic nationalists marched in Istanbul after Turkey’s media regulator Rtuk broadcast calls for people to “defend family values” as a public service announcement.

Sunday’s demonstration in one of Turkey’s largest cities, dubbed “the big family gathering” by organisers, called for new laws that would ban what they called LGBT propaganda by Netflix, social media, arts and organisations.

Protesters carried Turkish flags and one banner read: “Protecting the family is a national issue.”

Former Miss Turkey winner Tugce Kazaz told the crowd: “Now is the time for Muslims not only to pray but to wake up, take action and fight.”

Ahead of the protest, Rtuk circulated a video using images from past Pride marches and LGBT rights protests across Turkey, omitting scenes of attacks on demonstrators with tear gas, water cannons and police beating up activists.  

While homosexuality is not illegal in Turkey, LGBT protests have not been allowed in Turkey since 2015 and have always faced resistance from authorities.

LGBT equality group ILGA Europe tweeted it was extremely concerned about the risks of violence against the community.

“The Turkish state needs to uphold its constitutional obligation to protect all its citizens against hate and violence,” it said.

Amnesty International’s Turkey office said public service announcements listing the event violated Turkey’s equality and non-discrimination principles.

Top Turkish officials have called LGBT people “perverts” who aim to hurt traditional family values.

Anti-LGBT rights protester Hatice Muge, who works as a nanny, travelled to the protest from Bursa – a city 155 miles away by road.

She told reporters: “People are here despite the rain for their children, for future generations.

“[The government] should save the family, they should save the children from this filth.”