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The
Village Voice
In Iran,
a Fight Just to Fight for GLBT Rights
Yes, we have no
homosexuals.
By Kevin McKenna,
villagevoice.com on the Web September 26,
New York City, Sept.25 -- As a
gay student at Columbia University, I was looking forward to hearing what
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had to say about the documented
persecution of homosexuals in his country. Ahmadinejad did not discuss
punishment for homosexuals but rather stated, “In Iran we don’t have homosexuals
like in your country. In Iran we do not have this phenomenon. I
don’t know who’s told you that we have this.” As much as any of the views
expressed by Ahmadinejad, these views on homosexuality in Iran are completely
ridiculous and unreasonable.
I grew up in Orange County, California, which is not the friendliest environment
for gays. I went through about five years of personal torment before
finally coming out to my close friends and family during my senior year of high
school. There is not a large gay community in Orange County, so I was
happy to find myself in New York City about six months after informing my family
of my sexual orientation. The whole process was very difficult for me, but
everything turned out well in the end. The concerns I had about coming out
in Orange County are trivial compared to the dilemma gay people face in Iran.
Iran is one of only seven nations that subjects homosexuals to the death penalty
in the name of Islamic law. The government does not acknowledge the idea
of sexual orientation, so all Iranians are considered heterosexuals before the
law. “Gender identity disorder” is recognized in Iran, and sex change
operations are permitted for those who are able to afford them. Others
face the fullest extent of Sharia law for homosexual acts.
In July of 2005, two teen boys were publicly hanged for engaging in gay sex.
Prior to their execution, the two boys received a combined 228 lashes while in
prison for 14 months. This punishment is unimaginable to Americans for any
crime, let alone for something that has not been considered criminal in this
country since 2003. In addition, these boys were minors. While many
Americans may find homosexuality immoral, I imagine these people would
unquestionably condemn the torture and execution of two gay teens. This
story is just one of many regarding the oppression of the GLBT community in
Iran.
Many gay people in Iran live their lives in secret. Kamran, an Iranian
lesbian, reported to Iranian Queer Organization leader Arsham Parsi, “If someone
abuses you, you cannot issue a complaint to any organization or report to the
police, because you'll create more problems for yourself.” Gay Iranians
are living in fear, hoping that they won’t be caught and prosecuted.
Many gay Iranians have been ostracized by their own families, while others live
their lives keeping their homosexuality a secret even in their own home.
Kamran’s partner, Kaveh told Parsi, “My family will believe it, but I am certain
my parents would definitely have heart attacks. I will have problems with
my brother. And I will definitely be kicked out of the house.” While
many members of the American GLBT community must face the uncertain coming out
process, there are always resources and communities open to those whose families
do not take it well. This is not the case in Iran.
The only gay community that exists in Iran is in cyberspace, with little
exception. Parsi’s Iranian Queer Organization is based in Toronto, as it
would be dangerous to manage a website for the GLBT community in Iran. If
Iranians want to date people of the same-sex, foreign-based dating websites are
the only option because it is impossible to meet other gay people in public.
Any attempt to do so would facilitate the Iranian government in capturing and
executing gay Iranians. An attempt to set up a gay organization in the
early 1980s led to seventy executions.
In the United States, the gay community is fighting for non-discrimination laws
and marriage equality. In Iran, gay people are afraid to fight for
anything. They are only concerned with their right to live.
Ahmadinejad’s visit to campus made me realize that although the United States
has a long way to go on gay rights, many Iranians dream merely of having the
right to peacefully assemble and publicly fight for the rights that we already
enjoy. Fighting for equality here in the United States is important, but
the gay community in the Western world should be doing more to help those who do
not have a voice in other countries.
Kevin McKenna is a sophomore at Columbia University majoring
in political science. He is a research fellow in the Roosevelt Institution
and the Alumni and Social Affairs Director for the Columbia Democrats.
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