In this study, the newspapers such as H&uuml / rriyet, Milliyet, Radikal, Posta, AkSam, Sabah, Cumhuriyet, Star, G&uuml / neS, Takvim, D&uuml / nya, G&ouml / zc&uuml / and Yeni Asir are considered liberal or left leaning. The newspapers such as Akit, Milli Gazete, Yeni Asya, Anayurt, T&uuml / rkiye, Yeni Safak, D&uuml / nden Bug&uuml / ne Terc&uuml / man, Vakit and Zaman are considered conservative or Islamic newspapers. The period chosen for this analysis is between 28.12.1998 and 15.06.2006, and all the news items published in this period are scrutinised in the archive of the Parliament Library, where there is a special category for the news on homosexuality and homosexuals. First, the news items of the newspapers mentioned above are categorised as presented in the tables prepared. Through these tables, a general perspective on the press coverage in Turkey is revealed by the analysis of the evaluations of the general features of this coverage on homosexuality and homosexuals. Second, an extensive textual analysis is carried out by analysing the news texts regarding three common events covered in most of the newspapers mentioned above to reflect a more accurate and detailed account of the representation of homosexuality and homosexuals in the Turkish Daily Press. Moreover, in-depth interviews are conducted with homosexuals to find out their point of view on the portrayal of themselves in the Turkish Daily Press. Finally, the findings of the analysis of the press coverage of homosexuality and homosexuals, and the findings of the interviews are compared.

This thesis mainly aims to understand how construction of gay identity differentiates in terms of class inequalities. Regarding the conceptual framework of Deniz Kandiyoti, it inquires in what way class position reshapes the experience of gay sexuality and how gay men of different classes bargain with heteronormative order through different perceptions of homoeroticism and gender identities. In discussing this issue, how gay men identify themselves, how they represent their body, how they interact with and percieve other gay men, how they percieve masculinity and femininity in construction of gender identities engender as primary questions to understand plurality of gay experience. These featured aspects of gay experience in Turkey entail a dynamic process in the way of both multiple formation of gay experience due to class differences and contradictory character of such plurality. Perception of other forms of gay experience is included to the discussion for understanding a comprehensive analysis for plurality of gay experience.