20 year old Azerbaijan LGBT activist commits suicide

Suicide note : “I blame you all for my death. This world is not colorful enough for my colors.”

By Cathy Kristofferson, January 22, 2014

This morning I saw tweets that the 20 year old head of Azerbaijan’s LGBT organization had committed suicide. Isa Shahmarli was the chairman of the Azad LGBT (Free Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) group. While I was searching for information tweets started coming out with quotes from him making it all the more sad and maddening.

The note he left on his Facebook page:

“I am leaving you. God bless you. This country and this world are not for me. I am going to be happy now. Tell my mother I loved her very much. I blame you all for my death. This world is not colorful enough for my colors. Farewell.”

Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, just like parts of Nigeria where one person has been flogged following a guilty conviction for being homosexual. Others await trail to be begin tomorrow which could easily end in the sentence of death by stoning.  All this hate because the President signed his so-called Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill whipping up the excuse for rampant homophobic persecution at all levels of society. This is the World that Isa speaks of. No amount of flogging or degradation will change the sexuality of a human being.

Azerbaijan is a former Soviet Union country like Russia, the Ukraine and all of the -‘stans’ where anti-gay legislation has and continues to be introduced and passed with little to no opposition. Once again also whipping up the excuse for rampant homophobic persecution at all levels of society. Often aided by American Evangelicals like the bragging Scott Lively.

There is a wonderful interview Isa gave last October here. One snippet:

“My struggle wasn’t just to complain. Next days I was putting on different accessories, I was walking through the corridors of the University wearing my earrings. The people around me were swearing and insulting. But later most of them were ashamed of their action. Then I had a new environment. It wasn’t so difficult.”

Photo courtesy Forobserve team

Apparently it did become too difficult for Isa. Stop and think about him today please. And don’t listen to those saying to butt out of other countries’ business. Keep making noise because this world is a difficult place for our gay and trans brothers and sisters.

“At the end Isa shares his hopes with us. ‘I wish our society not to be biased. Before hating , read ‘what is homosexualism? in the Internet. they are free to hate after it. I want LGBTs to be brave,. I was hesitating beforehand, but now I have my own job. I live separately from my family in my own house. I can do everything myself. If you want yo can achieve.’”

NOTE FROM Publisher:  If you feel suicidal or are having such thoughts, please note the following resources below:

Also if you are in a country that persecutes or criminalizes you for being LGBTI, consider reaching out to International Groups, to find out what your options are and to see if you can find help – to leave for asylum. We do care about you here in other countries and we want to help you. You are NOT alone…..   Contact us at [email protected]

How to find help if you feel suicidal (USA):

If you or a young person you care about needs support, call The Trevor Lifeline at  USA (866) 488-7386. It’s free, confidential and available 24/7. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.

– National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255

– Suicide Awareness Voices of Education: save.org.

– Suicide Prevention Resource Center: www.sprc.org

– Every county operates immediate mental health crisis response services. For information, contact your local county human services agency.

People are invited post hotlines and resources from other countries.