“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of
one man are threatened.” - John F.
Kennedy
On January 22, 2014 friends of Isa Shakhmarli were greeted
with an online suicide note written as a status on Facebook. “This country,
this world is not my place to be” part of the
note said.
Isa Shakhmarli, a 20 year old young homosexual living in
Azerbaijan was found dead after reportedly hanging himself using the symbolic rainbow-colored
flag of the gay pride movement. Shakhmarli was the leader of the Azad LGBT
(Free Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) society in Azerbaijan.
“I’m leaving. Bless whatever you’ve done for me. This
country, this world is not my place to be. I’m leaving to be happy. Isalam
Seferli 59 – I’m leaving the door open. Let my mother know that I love her a
lot. It’s everyone’s fault! This world isn’t strong enough to carry my colors.
Farewell.”
Facebook went wild after the news came out about Shakhmarli's suicide. Articles on different news sites were published informing of the suicide, even though Azerbaijan does not support homosexual activity. Comments varied from people writing how it's unfair that the mentality and culture of Azerbaijan doesn't let people of any orientation live freely including people who were straight, to people mentioning the fact that Shakhmarli hung himself on purpose - knowing how much talk and discussion he'll achieve after his death, which apparently what the Azad LGBT Society needed.
Most commentators being homophobic, support the death of Shakhmarli calling it "one less of many to go" in which they were all content with. Even if people don't support homosexuality, what happened to humanity? How could people be happy for the fact that someone - an innocent individual, killed himself because he didn't feel safe or he was just tired of everything happening to him?
Homosexuality is defamed in Azerbaijan, causing many gays
and lesbians experience constant harassment, attacks and lack of support from
family and friends after becoming clear about their orientation. Many get kicked
out of their homes causing them to rent a place on their own or in worst case
scenario – live on the streets. The gay society is constantly greeted with various comments either while walking on the street or on social media - from mean phrases to death threats.
Why?
Many societies around the world have grown up and evolved thinking that the traditional marriage where a man marries a woman, is the right and the only correct way to love and to marry. The eyes of the people in these societies are not accustomed to the fact that same gender couples are showing affection to each other, or men being more feminine and women being more masculine. These people imagine all gays wearing female clothes and talking like a woman, in which as they get accustomed and welcomed to the gay society, they notice that not all LGBT are about their image. Most act and talk like their normal self yet all they care about is the freedom to love and to be happy with their special other.
Yet, if someone only wants to live peacefully, why get the constant hate and harassment? Why do people only support something when its on the spotlight instead of it being the case beforehand? People tend to show their support and agreement only if it's under discussion, being scared that they're support might get shut down by the society any other time.
We lack respect and the ability to understand one another. We forgot how it feels to show humane actions when one is in need of support and help. One only thinks about oneself and how something might affect oneself in the future.
Why?
Many societies around the world have grown up and evolved thinking that the traditional marriage where a man marries a woman, is the right and the only correct way to love and to marry. The eyes of the people in these societies are not accustomed to the fact that same gender couples are showing affection to each other, or men being more feminine and women being more masculine. These people imagine all gays wearing female clothes and talking like a woman, in which as they get accustomed and welcomed to the gay society, they notice that not all LGBT are about their image. Most act and talk like their normal self yet all they care about is the freedom to love and to be happy with their special other.
Yet, if someone only wants to live peacefully, why get the constant hate and harassment? Why do people only support something when its on the spotlight instead of it being the case beforehand? People tend to show their support and agreement only if it's under discussion, being scared that they're support might get shut down by the society any other time.
We lack respect and the ability to understand one another. We forgot how it feels to show humane actions when one is in need of support and help. One only thinks about oneself and how something might affect oneself in the future.
Not only do we lose individuals lacking support of any kind, we keep losing bits of humanity.
May you rest in peace, Isa Shakhmarli and many other individuals lacking support.
You will all be remembered.
