During Pride Month, some members of Azerbaijan’s LGBT+ community are expressing dissatisfaction with the activities of Gender and Development Public Union, the country’s first and only officially registered LGBT organization.
According to community members, the organization’s office has not been operating for several months, preventing people from accessing some of the services it provides. They claim that individuals who previously relied on the office for condoms, lubricants, and other sexual health supplies have been unable to access these resources for an extended period.
One community member told our editorial team that they last used the office approximately five months ago.
“We picked up condoms about five months ago. Now when we write and ask, we are told that the office is closed,” they said.
According to the source, while the organization’s leadership reportedly states that the office has been closed for around three months, community members believe the closure has lasted significantly longer.
Another point of concern relates to the responses community members say they have received from the organization. According to their accounts, when they inquire about the reasons behind the office closure, they are advised to contact relevant government institutions themselves.
“Write a letter to the ministry asking why the office is closed and why condoms and lubricants are not being provided. Don’t tell us—contact the ministry directly,” one community member recalled being told by representatives of the organization.
Some members of the community have criticized this approach, arguing that addressing issues related to the organization’s operations and communicating with relevant authorities should primarily be the responsibility of the organization itself.
Community members further allege that the organization’s office has not maintained consistent operations in recent years and has remained closed for extended periods on multiple occasions. According to their accounts, the office is sometimes open for only about half of the year, while services remain inaccessible during the remaining months.
At the time of publication, the reasons for the office closure, when operations may resume, and how services are currently being provided remain unclear. The official position of Gender and Development Public Union on these allegations has not yet been made public.
