Reeling: This is Not Me

This enlightening and beautifully shot film tells the story of gay men in Turkey who marry women to hide their sexual orientation in the face of societal and family pressures, save for gay and proud Mustafa who encourages his friends to be more open with their families. Mustafa has been in a relationship with a closeted, married man for 15 years. He takes viewers around Istanbul and through the one district, with its gay clubs and pride marches, that provides a respite for gay men from the conservative region and its rural communities. The film explores several provocative questions that many of these men consider including: Does a man quit being gay if he marries a woman? Are all women faithful to their men? Through it all, Mustafa remains insightful, confident, and hopeful about life for the LGBTQ+ community in this part of Turkey.