The struggle for gay rights in a country with no gays.

Monday, 08. 17. 2009  –  by Dana Gallagher

Strong Voices Emerging in the Struggle for Gay Rights in Iran

Gay rights in Iran were thrust into the attention of the Western world back in July 2005, when two teenagers named Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni where publicly hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in Mashad. The circumstances surrounding this horrific execution are still under debate, but many human rights groups have come to the conclusion that these boys were sentenced to death for consensual gay sex.

Then in September of 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that "we don't have homosexuals, like in your country" while addressing Columbia University. His claim was not only ridiculous, it was also chilling. If the very existence of homosexuals in Iran is denied, how can they ever be afforded the rights of a human being?

The level of harassment and surveillance to which Iranian homosexuals are subjected has made advocacy exceedingly difficult. Fearing for their lives, many people within the movement prefer to remain anonymous. One exception is Mani Zaniar, is an Iranian gay activist who was featured in “Out in Iran,” a documentary produced by CBC, Canada's national public broadcaster. Although the film can be viewed online, we have been asked not to show Mani’s picture due to accelerated security threats.

After the documentary broadcast in March 2007, Mani Zaniar was confronted by the authorities and had no choice but to leave Iran.  He is now the Executive Director of the Iranian Homosexual Human Rights Council, http://iranhomounion.net/.

Also featured in “Out in Iran,” and the current Communications Coordinator of the Iranian Homosexual Human Rights Council, is Arsham Parsi. A prominent Iranian gay activist, Arshad is the founder of the Iranian Queer Railroad (IRQR), an organization dedicated to providing aid to LGBT Iranians who are forced to leave their country, just as he was.

Arsham Parsi

His website, www.arshamparsi.net, recounts a story in which he was recognized in the street and slapped by a man who took offense to his views. They talked for two hours, and now the two men are friends. With patience and the willingness to educate, even if that meant getting slapped in the face, he was able to change the perspective of a homophobic man. We should all show such nerve, levelheadedness, and compassion in our own day-to-day battles for human rights.

Dana Gallagher is a New York-based activist with a passion for gender equality and reproductive rights. Much of her work has been based at Planned Parenthood of New York City as a member of the Activist Council, and has included event planning, organizing clinic escort programs, and community outreach.

Moderator's note: a couple of days before this piece was posted Arsham contacted his supporters to ask for their support for an Iranian asylum seeker who has recently fled to Switzerland. The man is broke and has fled Qom, the cleric center of Iran and one of the most rigid places in the world. He was forced to flee after a neighbor of his spied on him having sex in his own home. Please click here to find out more about the story and to offer some financial support.

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