Bülent Ersoy
Encyclopedia
Bülent Ersoy (born June 9, 1952, İstanbul ,Turkey) is a transgender
Turkish celebrity
and popular singer of Ottoman classical music
. Over the years, Ersoy has become a symbol for the increased tolerance for LGBT
figures in Turkish media.
She is known as one of the greatest singers of Turkish music, fans called her as Diva. She has very famous hits such as "Geceler" (Nights), "Beddua" (Curse), "Mazallah" (God Forbid!), "Biz Ayrılamayız" (We Cannot Break Up), "Sefam Olsun" (I Enjoy Myself), "Bir Tanrıyı Bir de Beni Sakın Unutma" (Never Ever Forget God and Me).
early on. Already one of Turkey
's most popular male singers and actors, Bülent Ersoy gained international notoriety in 1981 after having sex reassignment surgery
in London by a British plastic surgeon. Ersoy kept the name "Bülent
" even though it is a male name.
After the operation, Bülent found herself in opposition to the regime of Kenan Evren
. In a crackdown on "social deviance," Ersoy's public performances were banned along with those of other transsexual and transgendered people.
From Ersoy's standpoint, the ban should not have even applied to her, as she was an actual woman and not simply a man dressed as one. To circumvent the ban, she petitioned the Turkish courts to legally recognize her as a woman. The petition was rejected in January 1982. Days later, Ersoy attempted suicide
. In 1983 she left the entertainment industry in protest of the Evren regime's repressive policies. Later that same year, Evren left office and many of his policies were rescinded.
Ersoy continued her career mostly in Germany in addition to Turkey. Along with her musical career, she made several Turkish movies in Germany. During that time she also started having a relationship with Birol Gürkanlı.
Finally, in 1988, the Turkish Civil Code was revised so that those who completed sex reassignment surgery could apply for a pink or blue (pink for female, blue for male) identity card by which they were legally recognized in their new sex. Ersoy soon returned to singing and acting, becoming more popular as a woman than she had been as a man. Her public even took to calling her "Abla," or "elder sister," an affectionate sign of their total acceptance of her gender.
Despite her personal victory and acceptance of her fans, Bülent Ersoy has continued to court controversy. Critics noted that in a film in which Ersoy plays a cancer
patient who falls in love, she never kisses her leading man, though this may have had to do with her being highly germ phobic. On her 1995 album, Alatürka, she sang the adhan
as part of the piece, "Aziz İstanbul," an act which, because of her transsexual status, angered many Muslim
clerics. In 1998, a further storm of controversy was created when Bülent married her companion, Cem Adler. Interestingly, the public outrage that resulted had nothing to do with Ersoy's transsexual status but rather that her husband was over twenty years younger than she was.
Bülent Ersoy was badly injured in January 1999 while driving with her husband, but recovered after surgery. Later that year, she divorced Adler after learning of his tryst with a call girl. Now semi-retired, she continues to perform in many TV shows and serves as jury member on one of Turkey's most popular television shows, "Popstar Alaturka".
Ersoy married "Popstar Alaturka" contestant Armağan Uzun in July 2007, however filed for divorce in January 2008. She also made a show in July 2007 and is making new series of Popstars Alaturka which is expected to start in September 2007. There are also rumors of a new album produced by Erol Kose.
Ersoy sparked major controversy in February 2008 when she publicly criticised Turkey's incursion into Northern Iraq
and said she "would not send her sons to war" if she were a mother. An Istanbul public prosecutor has subsequently filed charges against her for "turning Turks against compulsory military service", an article which also brought prominent Turkish intellectual Perihan Magden
to trial in recent past. The Turkish Human Right Foundation (IHD) have stood up to Ersoy's defence. On 19 December 2008 Ersoy was pronounced not guilty of charges by a Turkish court.
In the show 'Popstar Alaturka', Bülent Ersoy has announced that she will be beginning a new album project very soon and the album is expected to be ready by the end of 2010.
In late 2010, Ersoy announced that she had listened to nearly 1,500 songs in the last 2 years and found it difficult to choose the best songs for the album. Her new album [after 'Canimsin' in 2002] is expected to be released in 2011. The album has been named 'Asktan Sabikali' - 'On Bail From Love'. The project includes a song written by Can Tanriyar called 'Alismak Istemiyorum' - 'I don't want to get used to it', and a classic by Orhan Gencebay: 'Bir Teselli Ver' - 'Give Me Support'. There also is a song by Gulsen; a pop music singer, which has the same name as the album 'Asktan Abikali" and also a song written for Bulent's new lover's mother titled ’Şehnaz, Şehnaz’. The album is expected to be released over the Bayram festival. One surprising addition to the album is a duet sung with Tarkan which is expected to become quite popular due to its performance by Turkey's two leading singers.
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
Turkish celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
and popular singer of Ottoman classical music
Ottoman classical music
Ottoman classical music developed in Istanbul and major Ottoman towns from Skopje to Cairo, from Tabriz to Morocco through the palace, mosques, and sufi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. Above all a vocal music, Ottoman music traditionally accompanies a solo singer with a small instrumental ensemble...
. Over the years, Ersoy has become a symbol for the increased tolerance for LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
figures in Turkish media.
She is known as one of the greatest singers of Turkish music, fans called her as Diva. She has very famous hits such as "Geceler" (Nights), "Beddua" (Curse), "Mazallah" (God Forbid!), "Biz Ayrılamayız" (We Cannot Break Up), "Sefam Olsun" (I Enjoy Myself), "Bir Tanrıyı Bir de Beni Sakın Unutma" (Never Ever Forget God and Me).
Biography
Bülent began her career as a male singer, in the genre of Turkish Classical Music, and became an actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
early on. Already one of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
's most popular male singers and actors, Bülent Ersoy gained international notoriety in 1981 after having sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
in London by a British plastic surgeon. Ersoy kept the name "Bülent
Bülent
Bülent is a common male given name in Turkey. It may refer to:*Bülent Akın, Belgian-Turkish footballer*Bülent Arel, Turkish-born composer*Bülent Arınç, Turkish politician of renowned oratory*Bülent Atalay, Turkish-American author, scientist, and artist...
" even though it is a male name.
After the operation, Bülent found herself in opposition to the regime of Kenan Evren
Kenan Evren
Ahmet Kenan Evren was the seventh President of Turkey; a post he assumed by leading the 1980 military coup. He was also the last president to be born in the Ottoman Empire.- Biography :...
. In a crackdown on "social deviance," Ersoy's public performances were banned along with those of other transsexual and transgendered people.
From Ersoy's standpoint, the ban should not have even applied to her, as she was an actual woman and not simply a man dressed as one. To circumvent the ban, she petitioned the Turkish courts to legally recognize her as a woman. The petition was rejected in January 1982. Days later, Ersoy attempted suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. In 1983 she left the entertainment industry in protest of the Evren regime's repressive policies. Later that same year, Evren left office and many of his policies were rescinded.
Ersoy continued her career mostly in Germany in addition to Turkey. Along with her musical career, she made several Turkish movies in Germany. During that time she also started having a relationship with Birol Gürkanlı.
Finally, in 1988, the Turkish Civil Code was revised so that those who completed sex reassignment surgery could apply for a pink or blue (pink for female, blue for male) identity card by which they were legally recognized in their new sex. Ersoy soon returned to singing and acting, becoming more popular as a woman than she had been as a man. Her public even took to calling her "Abla," or "elder sister," an affectionate sign of their total acceptance of her gender.
Despite her personal victory and acceptance of her fans, Bülent Ersoy has continued to court controversy. Critics noted that in a film in which Ersoy plays a cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
patient who falls in love, she never kisses her leading man, though this may have had to do with her being highly germ phobic. On her 1995 album, Alatürka, she sang the adhan
Adhan
The adhān is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day. The root of the word is meaning "to permit"; another derivative of this word is , meaning "ear"....
as part of the piece, "Aziz İstanbul," an act which, because of her transsexual status, angered many Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
clerics. In 1998, a further storm of controversy was created when Bülent married her companion, Cem Adler. Interestingly, the public outrage that resulted had nothing to do with Ersoy's transsexual status but rather that her husband was over twenty years younger than she was.
Bülent Ersoy was badly injured in January 1999 while driving with her husband, but recovered after surgery. Later that year, she divorced Adler after learning of his tryst with a call girl. Now semi-retired, she continues to perform in many TV shows and serves as jury member on one of Turkey's most popular television shows, "Popstar Alaturka".
Ersoy married "Popstar Alaturka" contestant Armağan Uzun in July 2007, however filed for divorce in January 2008. She also made a show in July 2007 and is making new series of Popstars Alaturka which is expected to start in September 2007. There are also rumors of a new album produced by Erol Kose.
Ersoy sparked major controversy in February 2008 when she publicly criticised Turkey's incursion into Northern Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
and said she "would not send her sons to war" if she were a mother. An Istanbul public prosecutor has subsequently filed charges against her for "turning Turks against compulsory military service", an article which also brought prominent Turkish intellectual Perihan Magden
Perihan Magden
Perihan Mağden is a Turkish writer, known for her wit. She is currently a columnist for the newspaper Taraf. She was tried and acquitted for calling for opening the possibility of conscientious objection to mandatory military service in Turkey....
to trial in recent past. The Turkish Human Right Foundation (IHD) have stood up to Ersoy's defence. On 19 December 2008 Ersoy was pronounced not guilty of charges by a Turkish court.
In the show 'Popstar Alaturka', Bülent Ersoy has announced that she will be beginning a new album project very soon and the album is expected to be ready by the end of 2010.
In late 2010, Ersoy announced that she had listened to nearly 1,500 songs in the last 2 years and found it difficult to choose the best songs for the album. Her new album [after 'Canimsin' in 2002] is expected to be released in 2011. The album has been named 'Asktan Sabikali' - 'On Bail From Love'. The project includes a song written by Can Tanriyar called 'Alismak Istemiyorum' - 'I don't want to get used to it', and a classic by Orhan Gencebay: 'Bir Teselli Ver' - 'Give Me Support'. There also is a song by Gulsen; a pop music singer, which has the same name as the album 'Asktan Abikali" and also a song written for Bulent's new lover's mother titled ’Şehnaz, Şehnaz’. The album is expected to be released over the Bayram festival. One surprising addition to the album is a duet sung with Tarkan which is expected to become quite popular due to its performance by Turkey's two leading singers.
Discography
- 1972 - Ne Samin Sekeri Ne Arabin Yuzu - Senar Plak
- 1972 / 1975- Derdimin Dermani Ol / Luzum KalmadI- Senar Plak
- 1972 / 1975- Sen Evlisin Ben Evli . Cira Gibi Yaniyorum- Senar Plak
- 1972 / 1975 - Neye Yara Gelisin / Korkmadin Mi Allahim - Senar Plak
- 1972 / 1975 -Tovbeler Tovbesi / Bir Kadeh Sarap - Senar Plak
- 1975 - Sohretler - Korsan Plak
- 1975 - Konser 1 - Elenor Plak
- 1976 - Toprak Alsin Muradimi / Yalniziga Alistim
- 1976 - Bir Tanriye Bir De Beni / Ask Duasi
- 1976 - Konser 2 - Elenor Plak
- 1977 - Konser 2 - Elenor Plak
- 1978 - Orkide 1 - Turkuola
- 1978 - Olmeyen Eserler - Hansola
- 1979 - Orkide 2 - Turkola
- 1980 - Dolmamis Cilerm - Bende Kullanim Allah'im
- 1980 - Beddua / Iste Bizim Hikayemiz
- 1981 - Mahseri Yasiyorum Ben - Turkola
- 1981 - Yuz Karasi - Buket Plak
- 1983 - Ak Guvercin - Lider LP
- 1984 - Duskunum Sana - Sembol LP
- 1985 - Yasamak Istiyorum - Sembol LP
- 1986 - Anilardan Bir Demet
- 1986 - Konseri - Sembol LP
- 1987 - Suskum Dunya - Sembol LP
- 1988 - Biz Ayrilamayiz - Sembol LP
- 1989 - Istiyorum - Sembol LP
- 1990 - Optum - Sembol LP
- 1991 - Bir Sen Bir De Ben - Sembol LP
- 1992 - Ablan Kurban Olsun Sana
- 1993 - Sefam Olsun
- 1994 - Akili Ol
- 1995 - Alaturka 1995
- 1995 - Benim Dunya Guzellerim
- 1997 - Maazallah
- 2000- Alaturka 2000
- 2002 - Canimsin
- 2011 - Asktan Sabikali
Filmography
- 1976: Siralardaki Heycan ( Excitement in High School)
- 1977: Olmeyen Sarki (The Never Dying Song)
- 1978: Iste Bizim Hikayemiz ( Here Is Our Story )
- 1980: Beddua (Curse)
- 1980: Şöhretin Sonu (The end of fame)
- 1984: Acı Ekmek (Bitter Bread)
- 1985: Tövbekar Kadın (Repent Woman)
- 1985: Asrın Kadını (Women of century)
- 1985: Benim Gibi Sev (Love like me)
- 1986: Efkarlıyım Abiler (I am wistful, brothers)
- 1986: Yaşamak İstiyorum 1 (I want to live 1)
- 1986: Yaşamak İstiyorum 2 (I want to live 2)
- 1987: Kara Günlerim (My Black Days)
- 1988: Biz Ayrılamayız (We cannot Break up)
- 1989: İstiyorum (I want)
External links
- Bülent Ersoy Fan Site
- http://www.youtube.com/bulentersoyonline
- http://www.divabulentersoy.com