Country Overview
Azerbaijan
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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LGBTIQ people in Azerbaijan face significant challenges and stigmatization. According to the Global Acceptance Index, Azerbaijan ranks 175th out of 175 countries, making it one of the least accepting countries in the world. ILGA-Europe also ranks Azerbaijan 49th out of 49 European states in terms of legal protections for LGBTIQ people. The law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics. Same-sex couples are not recognized, nor are they allowed to adopt children. It is not possible to change legal gender markers, although transgender people can change their names. LGBTIQ advocacy groups operate in Azerbaijan but are subjected to harassment by the police and the public. International organizations that host events held in Azerbaijan continue to be scrutinized and face public backlash over the country’s harsh anti-LGBTQ conditions. Nonetheless, several artists and cultural figures in Azerbaijan have publicly voiced support for LGBTIQ people’s human rights.
*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.
Global Impact
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