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Azerbaijan Gay Activist Commits Suicide

Azerbaijan Gay Activist Commits Suicide

Azerimourners

Isa Shakhmarli killed himself this week, apparently by hanging with a rainbow flag.

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A gay rights activist in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan was found dead this week, an apparent suicide by hanging, using a rainbow flag.

Isa Shakhmarli, 20, chairman of Azerbaijan Free LGBT, was found dead Wednesday in his apartment in the city of Baku, reports Agence France-Presse. He had written a note on Facebook saying, "I am leaving. Forgive me for everything. This country and this world are not for me. You are all guilty for my death. This world cannot handle my true colors. Goodbye."

A video recorded at the scene showed a torn rainbow flag hanging from the ceiling as emergency medical personnel tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Shakhmarli, according to AFP.

Homosexuality remains stigmatized in the largely Muslim nation of Azerbaijan, as in many former Soviet republics, even though it has been decriminalized. Shakhmarli's family had difficulty with the fact that he was gay, his friend and fellow activist Vugar Adigozalov told AFP. "The main reason for his suicide was that he had bad relations with his family," Adigozalov said.

Watch a video of Shakhmarli's friends mourning him below, via Radio Free Europe.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.