Vahid Aliyev is an LGBTIQ+ rights defender and an expert on Azerbaijan for ILGA-Europe. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Queer History at Goldsmiths University in London. He is a freelance translator and researcher who collaborates with organisations such as IMAGINE, OC Media, Caucasus Edition, Minority Azerbaijan, and many others. His main focus is on conflicts and sexuality, queer theory and history, queer feminism, and the role of capitalism in the formation of LGBTIQ+ communities and globalisation. He is the founder of the "Blue" idea association, which is engaged in various types of research related to sexuality and gender, queer history and theories, sociology, and politics.