Nil Erkoçlar was named for the Nile river. At 10 years old she was acting in Turkish commercials. At 15 she was the model for sanitary pads. She acted in nine television productions and one film, and acted on stage with some of Turkeys' most famous actors.
In February 2013, a record producer who likes to announce celebrity scandal, tweeted that "she is no longer a woman". Erkoçlar's family immediately denied the rumour, but a few days later Erkoçlar agreed to an interview with pre- and post-photographs with Hürriyet Daily News. Erkoçlar announced that he had changed his name to Rüzgar (wind), had been on male hormones for two years and had had transgender surgery. He had never been with a man, did not regard himself as a lesbian and never identified as a woman. The public reaction was mainly positive, even amongst the Islamist television personalities. Khomeini's fatwa permitting gender changes in Iran was mentioned.
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The Turkish state recognized Rüzgar's gender by summoning him to do the military service that is mandatory for all Turkish males. However the military medical board found him 'not suitable for military service'.
In February 2013, a record producer who likes to announce celebrity scandal, tweeted that "she is no longer a woman". Erkoçlar's family immediately denied the rumour, but a few days later Erkoçlar agreed to an interview with pre- and post-photographs with Hürriyet Daily News. Erkoçlar announced that he had changed his name to Rüzgar (wind), had been on male hormones for two years and had had transgender surgery. He had never been with a man, did not regard himself as a lesbian and never identified as a woman. The public reaction was mainly positive, even amongst the Islamist television personalities. Khomeini's fatwa permitting gender changes in Iran was mentioned.
The Turkish state recognized Rüzgar's gender by summoning him to do the military service that is mandatory for all Turkish males. However the military medical board found him 'not suitable for military service'.
- Ayşe Arman. "Turkish actress now a ‘free man’ after a decision to change genders". Hürriyet Daily News, February 25 2013. www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-actress-now-a-free-man-after-a-decision-to-change-genders.aspx?pageID=238&nID=41782&NewsCatID=381.
- "Turkish actor: ‘Gender reassignment was my choice and now I’m free’". Pink News, 25/002/213. www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/25/turkish-actor-gender-reassignment-was-my-choice-and-now-im-free.
- "Rüzgar Erkoçlar'a ailesinden tepki:
Ünlü oyuncu Nil Erkoçlar'un cinsiyet değiştirirken ailesine haber vermediği iddia edildi". Enson Haber, 26.02.213. www.ensonhaber.com/ruzgar-erkoca-ailesinden-tepki-2013-02-26.html. - Oray Egin. "Rüzgar Erkoçlar: Sex Change Operation Tests Turkey's Limits Of Tolerance". Policy.mic, March 8, 2013. http://mic.com/articles/29167/ruezgar-erkoclar-sex-change-operation-tests-turkey-s-limits-of-tolerance.
- "Turkish transgender actor called to army". Hürriyet Daily News, July 28 2014. www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-transgender-actor-called-to-army-.aspx?pageID=238&nid=69714&NewsCatID=381.
- "Turkey: Trans man actor called up for military service". PinkNews, 28/07/2014. www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/07/28/turkey-trans-man-actor-called-up-for-military-service.