There’s some news coming out of Iran— and for a change it doesn’t involve chants of “Death to America.” Today, the first day of Mordad (the fifth month on the Persian calendar), marks the third annual National Day of Sexual Minorities in Iran, when members of the country’s LGBT community and their allies declare a measure of personal freedom in the repressive country.
For some, that means holding up a sign (like the one at right, which reads “Happy National Day of Iranian Sexual Minorities.'” For others it could be just stealing a quick kiss on a rooftop.
“Iranian LGBT people want to celebrate our sexualities. We exist and we’re not sick or sinners,” Gorji Marzban, chair of the Oriental Queer Organization of Austria (ORQOA), told Gay Star News. “Someday it will become a day of celebration and the LGBT community in Iran will be proud of their struggle against ignorance and rigidity they experience from the regime.”
Sadly, a damning report from the Human Rights Watch, We Are a Buried Generation, paints a sobering picture of life for our brothers and sisters in Iran. One that includes harassment, blackmail, torture and murder—even for minors: The report reveals that, to date, there’s been no ban on the execution of juvenile offenders by the Iranian government.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
So while President Ahmadinejad might bizarrely boast there are no homosexuals in his country, we salute these brave individuals and hope one day soon they can fight against homophobic fast-food chains instead of fighting for their lives.
Photo: We Are Everywhere
mark
we must not forget how good we have it in North America!
jeff4justice
Now here are some real brave people.
Wishing our LGBTI brothers and sisters in these types of dangerous places peace, safety, and the strength to keep fighting.
B
Power to these brave men (and women) for standing up to bigotry, backwardness and hate!
Billysees
They “are” brave kids.
What a shame that their persecution is religious based.
In due time, old and dilapidated religious attitudes will cease.
We need only hope that “thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” will occur sooner rather than latter.