May 1 – Labour Day

May 1 – Labour Day

Queerphobia divides the class!

As the Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance, we join the global celebration of International Workers’ Day on May 1st, and we reaffirm our commitment to the struggle for the rights and dignity of all workers, including LGBTQI+ workers.

In Azerbaijan, LGBTQI+s face multiple forms of discrimination, exclusion, and violence, both in the workplace and in society at large. We are often forced to hide our identity, face harassment and bullying, and are denied equal opportunities for employment, education, and healthcare.

As workers, LGBTQI+s also face the same challenges and exploitation as their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, such as low wages, long working hours, and unsafe working conditions. Moreover, we are often subjected to additional forms of discrimination and abuse, such as being fired or not being hired for our sexual orientation or gender identity, or being denied access to social security benefits and other labour rights.

On May 1st, we call on the Azerbaijani government, employers, and civil society to recognise and address the specific needs and rights of LGBTQI+ workers, and to ensure that we can fully and safely participate in the labour market, without fear of discrimination or violence.

We also call on our fellow workers, socialist activists, labour organisations to stand in solidarity with LGBTQI+ workers, and to join forces in the struggle for social and economic justice for all. Only by working together, as a united and diverse labour movement, can we achieve the transformative changes that are needed to build a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable world.

Finally, we would like to express our SOLIDARITY with all WORKERS, activists, and progressive forces around the world who are fighting against exploitation, oppression, and discrimination, and who are striving to build a better future for all. On this Labour Day, let us renew our commitment to the struggle for social justice and equality, and let us celebrate the power and diversity of the working class.