Over the years, issues concerning our community have gained substantial visibility at national and international levels, thanks to the brave and tireless work of queer activists, civil society groups, journalists, and other individuals.
However, this visibility remains fragmented due to significant gaps in access, capacity, skills, resources, and participation in LGBTI+ advocacy.
In response to these challenges, Nafas LGBTI Azerbaijan Alliance initiated the Rainbow Advocacy Academy in 2022. This program aims to address the manifold gaps and challenges identified through pre-study desk research and in-depth discussions with experts and relevant actors.
Objective
The main objective of the Rainbow Advocacy Academy is twofold:
- to strengthen the advocacy capacity of newly emerging LGBTQI+ groups and activists, and
- to facilitate their engagement.
In doing so, the program aims to:
Program Structure
Rainbow Advocacy Academy
consists of three main phases
Capacity-Building Training
Participants undergo a two-day incentive program focused on project development.
1st Phase
Consultative Sessions
Participants receive assistance in developing their own advocacy projects through guided consultations.
2nd Phase
LOTS Advocacy Projects
With mentorship from Nafas, selected participants plan and implement Learning On The Spot (LOTS) advocacy projects. These projects allow participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in practical settings. The projects, which address challenges faced by the LGBTI+ community in Azerbaijan, are designed to be achievable within three months with clear activities and objectives.
3rd Phase
Since its launch, the Rainbow Advocacy Academy has successfully completed 2 cycles during the periods of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, having 19 fellows, and supporting four LOTS projects.
LOTS 1
The project addressed discrimination in the workplace and or when accessing the labor market.
The primary aim of the project was to increase the awareness of up to 20 queers in Baku on labor rights, to enable them better defend their rights at the workplace, thus contributing to reducing the number of cases of violence and exploitation in the workplace.
Additionally, the project aimed to contribute to the creation of such precedents in the future by training community members about labor rights, bearing in mind that there is no strategic litigation work in this context.
As part of the project, a 1-day workshop called “My Labor Rights” was organized on April 2023 in Baku.
Led by the expert lawyer, 25 participants were informed about the general norms of labor rights, the domestic legal framework on non-discrimination and equality in employment in particular, familiarized with equality concepts, direct and indirect forms of discrimination, and available domestic and regional remedies when respective violations occur.
Come HERE to check out the post capturing the moments of the workshop.
LOTS 2
The project focused on the challenges of visible activism, particularly in the context of the May 14th (2022) and March 8th protests, where the queer community was frequently targeted and instrumentalized.
Through the power of storytelling, the project aimed to document the challenging experiences of LGBTI+ individuals and activists in police stations, ensuring that these stories are told and become visible.
The project included the creation of a documentary, followed by both onsite and online launches of the film.
The documentary became a platform for four queer individuals, including two activists, to share their stories. The premiere took place on May 17th during the community event dedicated to IDAHOBIT2023Baku, followed by a panel discussion on the same topic.
On the same day, the documentary premiered online on QiyVar’s YouTube channel, with English subtitles available for non-Azerbaijani audiences.
Come HERE to check out the post capturing the moments from the premiere and the panel discussion afterward.
Come HERE to watch the documentary.
LOTS 3
The project aimed to provide alternative mental health support to 20 queer individuals from Baku and surrounding regions who have limited access to professional psychological support due to unemployment and low income. The project utilized Ebru, a traditional Turkish water marbling technique, as a therapy tool.
The project accommodated 14 participants, eight in the first group and six in the second group.
The agenda of each day was as follows:
- Day 1 began with a short group meditation. Beneficiaries then used various techniques provided by an experienced mentor to affirm and celebrate their desired or unchallenged identities. Following this, the mentor answered the beneficiaries’ questions. Afterward, they engaged in the art of marbling. The mentor first taught the beneficiaries the techniques of marbling, explaining its history, basics, and role as an alternative meditation tool. By the end of the day, the mentor reviewed and analyzed the beneficiaries’ work.
- Day 2 began again with group meditation. Beneficiaries then wrote down the problems and obstacles preventing them from achieving the personality they envisioned on the first day, placing these notes into a box. This was followed by discussions between the beneficiaries and the mentor. After these conversations, the beneficiaries resumed their marbling activities, similar to the first day. The mentor taught further the marbling technique again, conducted a Q&A session, and analyzed the beneficiaries’ work at the end of the day.
- Day 3 began with a short meditation, followed by a discussion around the question, “What can I do to solve the problems I wrote down on the second day?” Participants then resumed their work with marbling. At the end of the day, the mentor analyzed the work done by the participants over all three days.
Come HERE to check out the video capturing the essence of sessions and featuring comments from the beneficiaries of the project.
Upon the conclusion of these sessions, the LOTS 1 project team was left with dozens of Ebru works created by the beneficiaries. This inspired the follow-up activity, which is organizing the Ebru exhibition series on May 17, 18, and 19, during the IDAHOBIT2024Baku week.
Furthermore, putting those works on sale at a symbolic price, with all proceeds later being directed to stray animal rescue initiatives in Baku and the surrounding areas, the act aligning with our broader goals of promoting empathy, solidarity, and social responsibility within and beyond the LGBTI+ community.
Besides the exhibition element, the program of each day also included other activities.
The first day of the exhibition began with an exclusive performance by Omar Mammad, the LOTS 1 project manager. Titled “Queer Destiny in Azerbaijan,” the performance utilized Ebru art to depict the challenges faced by queer individuals from birth and the ongoing struggles for survival in Azerbaijan. Through his performance, Omar highlighted the difficulties of being queer in Azerbaijan while emphasizing the importance of collective strength as a path forward.
Come HERE to check out the video capturing moments from the first day.
Due to popular demand, the second day began once again with the “Queer Destiny in Azerbaijan” performance, followed by the eagerly awaited poem, “Everything will be fine!” In preparation for #IDAHOBIT2024Baku week, we invited community members through various social media platforms to contribute lines and paragraphs anonymously to a collective poem. The #IDAHOBIT2024Baku team then compiled these anonymous submissions into a poem titled “Everything Will Be Fine,” reflecting the week’s motto, which turned out to be a little political, a little gossipy, a little romantic, and a little sexy.
Come HERE to check out the video capturing moments from the second day.
The third day featured a panel discussion titled “Self-care is Resistance,” exploring the intersection of socioeconomic challenges and mental well-being within the LGBTI+ community in Azerbaijan. The discussion aimed to spotlight the importance of mental well-being and resilience within the LGBTI+ community in Azerbaijan. By addressing the intersection of socioeconomic challenges and their impact on individual and community levels, the discussion focused on actionable steps to strengthen the resilience and well-being of LGBTI+ individuals. The panel further provided momentum for exploring alternative mental health tools and practices that can support individuals in taking charge of their well-being.
Come HERE to check out the video capturing moments from the second day.
As to the fundraising outcome, during the Ebru Exhibitions, we successfully raised a total of 250 AZN.
In collaboration with the “Vegan Collective” initiative, a portion of the funds was directed towards the small surgery needs of two mother dogs with swollen breasts because their puppies were taken away by Toplan, the state-sponsored animal “care” center.
Another portion of the funds was used to buy cat food for a woman who shelters approximately 18 cats in her yard in Baku, a relief for her, at least for 1 month.
The remaining funds were allocated to deliver food to areas around Baku, including coastal regions and the Gobustan area, where animals, especially dogs often struggle to find sustenance.
Come HERE to check out the post containing photos of some of our animal friends who benefited from this activity,
LOTS 4
The project was developed during a period of increasing concern over the availability of safe spaces for the LGBTI+ community, particularly regarding access to public spaces and housing.
Given the context, the project aimed to raise awareness about the challenges LGBTI+s face in accessing public spaces in Azerbaijan, particularly from the perspective of urban planning and gender, while inspiring action toward safer and inclusive public spaces.
The project first engaged 4 queer artists, providing them with resources to study how urban spaces shape the lives of LGBTI+s in Azerbaijan. the intersection of gender and safe spaces from the perspective of urban planning.
As part of the research, 6 infographics were later created, explaining how city infrastructure affects marginalized communities.
Starting with simpler to more intermediate examples, these infographics explored how public transportation, public toilets, urban anxiety, class differences, and cisgender-male-oriented city planning, shape access to public spaces for women and LGBTI+s.
Come HERE to check out the infographics.
The project also provided a platform for those artists to connect the outcome of their research with their creative expression.
Naming them “Dangerous Places”, artists designed 14 installations for the photo exhibition which took place during the Baku Pride 2024 Week.
Come HERE to check out the video capturing moments from the exhibition.
This project marked the first time we explored the intersection of urban planning, gender and queer issues, a topic that receives very little attention in Azerbaijan. Additionally, queer art in the country also remains both underfunded and largely underground. To mark its innovative nature, by combining research and art, the project also contributed to filling that critical gap in both academic and artistic discourse on queer issues in Azerbaijan.