15:34, 5 February 2014

Azerbaijani LGBT activists demand from authorities to start "hotline" for members of sexual minorities

Activists of the LGBT Alliance named "Nefes" (Breath) have collected more than 200 signatures to the petition addressed to the President of Azerbaijan asking to set up a telephone "hotline" for psychological help to members of sexual minorities.

The idea of the "hotline" arose after the tragic death of Isa Shakhmarly, the chairman of the organization named "Free LGBTs", who didn’t hide his sexual orientation. He hanged himself on January 22 in Baku, using the rainbow flag of sexual minorities as a rope.

According to Gyulnara Azimzade, the chair of the "Free LGBTs", the LGBT communities of Azerbaijan intend to collect more than 40,000 signatures in support of the "hotline" project.

The petition will be submitted to the Parliament of Azerbaijan. "In May 2014, Azerbaijan will head the Council of Europe. We want to take this opportunity to raise the issue of protection of sexual minorities' rights at the European Parliament. Azerbaijan, being a member of many international organizations, should continue reforms towards protecting LGBTs' rights," said Djavid Nabiev, the head of the "Nefes".

Author: Kyamal Ali

Source: CK correspondent