Sex Work

Azerbaijan’s queer sex workers face double isolation

Queer sex workers in Azerbaijan face systemic discrimination by national and law enforcement agencies, while also struggling to find acceptance within the larger queer community. After losing their job at the age of 17, Matan was forced to resort to sex work to make ends meet. Matan says their age and cross dressing only made finding an alternative harder. Today, at 19, Matan finds themself subject to public shaming and police intimidation on a regular basis. Merriment drowned out Matan’s