by Lorette C. Luzajic

Which would you prefer- to be chopped in two with a sword, or beheaded by the same weapon? Maybe it sounds like more fun to be thrown from a mountain or high building, or, go out with the good old fashioned Old Testament stoning.

It’s not the kind of thing I spend my days mulling over, not when there’s a new-ish Pet Shop Boys album and Cheap Martini Wednesday at Lola Lounge.

But what if, upon leaving the martini festivities tomorrow, everyone at the party is executed?

If you’re queer in the theocracy of Iran, none of the above scenarios are far-fetched at all. They happen all the time. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Columbia University, “In Iran, we do not have homosexuals — not like in your country.” But Iranian minister Mohsen Yahyavi told British MPs that he thought “Homosexuals deserve to be executed or tortured and possibly both.” Still others don’t think the sodomy laws are really much of a threat. Harvard professor Afsaneh Najmabadi says that because Islamic law requires five witnesses to the act, the death penalty is not easily carried out.

Whether gays ‘deserve’ torture, or don’t exist at all, or if the laws are difficult to, well, execute, the fact remains that over four thousand Iranian homosexuals have been put to death in the past three decades, ever since Ayatollah Khomeini moved to power in 1979. The country then became the fundamentalist Islamic Republic of Iran.

The death penalty is official, but unofficially, countless queers commit suicide, unable to face a society that would rather they don’t exist, a culture that believes they are better dead than alive.

Arsham Parsi was a bright and handsome Iranian teen with a secret. When some people in his community committed suicide, Arsham knew why. People were dying because they were gay, like him, living with the terror of imminent torture, whipping, drugging, and exile. Lesbians were also facing rape, hormone treatments, and enforced marriage.

Arsham bravely started an internet site called Rainbow Group, where LGBTQ people could learn more about themselves and find solidarity. He then started Persian Gay Boy, along with some connections in Norway. His work was done anonymously, of course. “I started to work underground,” Arsham tells me. “No one knew about this, not even my closest friends.” There was also Voice Celebration, which brought together about fifty gays and lesbians, discussing in code names ways to achieve civil rights in a government that didn’t even afford them human status.

Arsham’s websites were among the first efforts for gay civil rights in Iran. Earlier efforts in the 1980s to set up an LGBTQ organization meant 70 people were put to death. When officials started closing in on this anonymous community leader, Arsham fled his city of Shiraz for Tehran. Several gays had been arrested in Shiraz, and he feared for his life. “They were looking for me, too,” he says. “I didn’t want to stay there if I couldn’t continue my cause.” But it was too dangerous to stay in Iran at all, so he escaped into Turkey. “I left my family, my friends,” he says. “It was so hard. They didn’t know what I was doing. I told them I was a human rights activist and had to go to Turkey to continue some education.”

In Turkey, it was only marginally safer. Arsham and a gay friend were beaten nearly to death while crowds just stood and watched and no police came to their assistance. It was this incident that cemented in his mind a burning desire to help save others, through education, advocacy, and activism. Originally, he had wanted to be a veterinarian. He could hardly have imagined he would become the world’s foremost activist for Iranian queers. Three short years ago, Arsham landed safely in Canada as a refugee through the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. Today the young hero is the courageous founder and chief executive of the Iranian Queer Railroad, the only active NGO for gay Iranians.

It’s not just about internet chatting and educational brochures, though Arsham says a little education could go a long way. “In Iran, the lack of information is what drives animosity. It’s not just Islam- according to most religions, they do not agree with homosexuality. It’s not ‘natural.’ But in Canada, we have resources to learn more about people and science and equality. In Iran, there are no books, no publications…we have…denial.” And so, informing friends, families, networks, and educators both here and abroad is important work. But the IRQR is a railroad in the same way that the Underground Railroad brought African American slaves to safety in our continent’s more troubled times. It’s a hands-on freedom fighting organization.

“We help Iranian gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered refugees all over the world. We help when Iranian queers are threatened with deportation back to Iran. We also assist Iranian queers in obtaining asylum in friendly countries. IRQR helps these refugees through the process and, whenever possible, provides funds for safe houses from donations, because most of queer people are not physically safe in their transit country either.” The IRQR “documents human rights violations, Iranian queer persecution on base of their sexual orientation, provides letters of support for Iranian queer asylum seekers and refugees, and supports anti-homophobia/anti-persecution efforts.”

Arsham’s railroad has moved almost 100 queers out of Iran into Turkey, where they await asylum in gay-friendlier nations. There are more than 100 others whom he is working to free from Iran right now. The IRQR has had a positive impact on 69% of the cases they’ve worked on. Many have now made it to safe countries where they can begin a new life.

A few short years ago, if you Googled “Iranian Queers” or “gays in Iran” hardly anything came up. Now, thanks in no small part to this young hero’s fearless efforts, you’ll get thousands. Arsham is proud “that I could bring this taboo issue out of the closet and say queer rights are human rights.”

Of course, there’s never enough money to go around, and it takes a lot of money to bring just one person to freedom. From simple telephone expenses to airfare to food for refugees to legal expenses, saving a person from deportation, or bringing them out of Iran into safety is expensive. But every donation or sponsorship the IRQR receives literally saves the life of an LGBTQ Iranian.

Arsham hopes eventually the railroad will pick up enough steam to pay him a living wage. So far, he lives courageously on faith, without a salary. He and his partner occupy a tiny cooperative in Toronto, in a somewhat unsavory part of town. It’s clean and bright, and they welcome me with a nice pot of spiced tea. For a man whose mission is saving lives, it’s a surprisingly humble, normal atmosphere. There’s a Sodoku puzzle book and a yellow table and abstract artwork, but the trappings border on spartan. They have no money, because every cent goes into Arsham’s rescue work.

But there’s no time to worry. He’s active in the democratic Iranian communities in Canada. He’s a keynote speaker at conferences for human rights all over the world, flown here and there by generous donors who know the gifted and passionate speaker can change the world. He’s in panel discussions, and on first name basis with Canadian members of parliament. He’s in documentaries like Jihad of Love and in newspaper and magazine articles about gay rights, including last month’s Out Magazine feature on Iran. He is writing letters to governments and news agencies. He is petitioning potential donors to help him support his refugees, afford them food and shelter and medical care as needed, and pay his legal fees. He is also cultural ambassador for Stockholm-based International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Association, advisory boards for umpteen world gay rights organizations, and a recipient of excellence and pride awards for his unwavering commitment to human rights.

Petitioning, lobbying, paperwork, legal documents is no small task. Arsham works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but it’s an arduous process. Iranian queers awaiting asylum, safety, refugee status, hope- well, there’s a long line up and they can be waiting for years. Without advocacy, they are waiting in vain, and some will be deported back to a world where they will pay with death for their love. There are nearly 32 million refugees from around the world right now, and only so many U.N. workers to go around. Arsham works tirelessly to bring attention and immediacy to desperate Iranians, many who are homeless, hungry, and in still in danger.

It’s determination that fuels Arsham to bring Iran’s “gay problem” out of the closet, and he has made extraordinary strides already. He has reconciled with his family, who now know why he had to go, and though it took them awhile and a lot of education, today they accept him as gay. He can’t go home, but he is so grateful to Canada for his freedom from oppression and death. “After four days in North America, I said ‘I have freedom!’ You are born here, you don’t know what freedom is. I’m sad to see so many youth in Canada and the U.S. who are narrow-minded, who have no idea what is happening on the other side of the world. They don’t know about the torture.”

Arsham’s determination comes from his faith. “I’m not religious,” he tells me. “But I have faith. It’s not just about Islam. There’s an energy and I’m part of it. I studied spirituality in Iran, and I don’t agree with how religions define God. Once, I had that feeling that I was a sinner and had to become normal…but now, what I’m doing right now, helping other people, that is my spiritual practice.”

Like another legendary human rights leader who risked everything to advance equality, Arsham Parsi also has a dream. It’s a dream he almost died for, and he’s not out of danger yet. But his work is just beginning, and already, he has saved hundreds of lives. “I, Arsham Parsi, a queer activist who must live in exile say, ‘I have a dream, too.’ My dream is that one day the rights of all queers will be recognized and respected. That one day no one will be executed, tortured, arrested, imprisoned, isolated by society or disowned by their family and community for being queer. A day when our sexual orientation will not deprive us of our rights. That is my wish and the wish of all those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Resource:

Islamic Republic of Iran’s punishment code on Homosexuality

How you can help:

Get more information to spread in your community, and learn how you can fundraise or donate to the Iranian Queer Railroad

If your community would like to host a fundraiser for the IRQR, contact Arsham personally for information and inspiration:  info@irqr.net

Stay informed and show support on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/177888?recruiter_id=8956913

The owners of Olivia, Atlantis and RSVP announced Friday a joint effort with other prominent members of the LGBT community to raise donations for earthquake relief in Haiti, reported by 365gay.com’s Ruth Schneider.

Rich Campbell, chief executive officer of Atlantis Events which announced $15,000 in matching contributions for relief said, “Now is the time for us to lend out gay dollars to a compelling human tragedy that knows no gender or sexual orientation.”

Olivia Companies pledged an additional $7,500 and offered a limited number of free cruises to those who donate $7,500 or more to the fund. To contribute, go to http://american.redcross.org/lgbt-pub.

by Bambi Weavil

Our hearts are broken watching the footage from the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them and their families, as well as the relief workers from all over the world who are trying to make a difference.  We can all make a difference by donating whatever we can to help in the relief effort.  Here are 10 non-profits I urge you to support.  No donation amount is too small.

Click here to view the embedded video.

(A photoessay with images from Jan. 12 – Jan. 13 of the disaster in Haiti. – American Red Cross)

Here is a list of non-profits you can donate to:

-  Donate To V-Day’s Haiti Rescue Fund:  “V-Day is initiating a Haiti Rescue Fund immediately to be ready with funds for the V-Day Haiti Sorority Safe House in Port Au Prince, that provides shelter to women survivors of violence and their children, as well as psychological, legal and medical support.

We urge you to support this effort, we cannot forget the women and girls of Haiti who already suffer some of the worst poverty in the world and the most violent conditions for women.

To donate by check, please mail to:
V-Day, Haiti
303 Park Ave South, Suite # 1184
New York, NY 10010-3657

Please make checks out to “V-Day” and write “Haiti” in the memo line.“

- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) -  Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe.

Update 1/14/10:  MSF has already treated more than 1,000 people on the ground in Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake, but the needs are huge. An inflatable hospital with operating theatres is expected to arrive in the next 24 hours.  Donate to help Doctors Without Borders in Haiti!

-  Oxfam-  Learn about Oxfam’s response to the Haiti earthquake.

“Oxfam has over three decades of experience in Haiti, and we have rushed in teams from around the region to respond to the situation where our assistance is most needed. We are providing clean water, shelter and sanitation and helping people recover – your donation will go immediately to the most critical needs in Haiti, and we will ensure that every penny is used wisely.“  Donate to help Oxfam America to meet the most critical needs in Haiti.

-  Yele Haiti – Yele Haiti is a movement led byWyclef Jean that is helping to bring hope back to Haiti. Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health, environment and community development.  100% of your donation will go to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund!

-  The following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:

• SMS text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
• SMS text “YELE” to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts

-  American Red Cross -  Update 1/14/10:  American Red Cross Releases $10 Million to Help Haiti.

“Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources and recovery.”

-  PSI -  PSI is mobilizing support for the millions of Haitians affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. Donations will help PSI and its partners provide life-saving products to clean and sanitize local water supplies along with general humanitarian relief for earthquake victims as they transition from basic survival to recovery.  To support these efforts, donate here.

-  CHF - “CHF will distribute food aid, water and shelter in the immediate aftermath, and then we will focus on the needs of the people as they transition from basic survival to recovery. This includes some of CHF’s areas of greatest expertise such as building ‘transitional shelters’; temporary homes that meet international standards where a family can live during the recovery period; helping to generate livelihoods, by employing people in the clean up of their community; and aiding reconstruction efforts by creating earthquake resistant buildings.”  To read more, and to donate, visit CHF.

-  MADRE -  “You may be wondering whether MADRE is actually able to transport emergency relief given Haiti’s decimated infrastructure.  We have determined that our partner organization in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante, is able to bring humanitarian aid overland into the country. Teams of healthcare workers from the project have established a functioning supply chain through the Dominican Republic and are currently delivering medical aid to those most in need in Haiti.  Zanmi Lasante has more than 120 doctors and nearly 500 nurses and nursing assistants coordinating emergency medical relief efforts. They are setting up mobile field hospitals in Port-au-Prince, where staff can triage patients, provide emergency care and send those who need surgery or more complex treatment to our partner’s functioning hospitals and surgical facilities outside the destroyed city.”  Learn more about MADRE’s efforts and donate to MADRE.

-  Operation USA Prepares Emergency Aid in Response to Earthquakes in Haiti – donate at opusa.org!

-  Sodopreca (Spanish) – This is the only Dominican animal group going to Haiti specifically to rescue animals.  Thank you to SuperVegan for the lead!

L ‘Union Fait la Force-  Thank you for all that you do!

Echelon Magazine featured a recent article on the Pride Choice Awards list of top-rated LGBTQ non-profits.  Community-based nonprofits and religious gay groups got top ratings in the Great Non-Profits 2009 Pride Choice Awards, which featured LGBTQ non-profits that focused on education, service, and advocacy.

Simply stated, these designs were inspired by the beautiful struggle for equality. We are not relegated to “second class status.”  Please visit www.cafepress.com/ideate to support our fight.

10% of this advertising will go to Equality North Carolina.  Please support our sponsor and Equality NC!

MCCNY Homeless Youth Services’ Sylvia’s Place is a home away from home for LGBTQ youth seeking anything from counseling and job training to a warm meal & safe place to sleep at night.

Due to government cuts in spending, funding for Sylvia’s place has been cut in half over recent years.  Please join them on June 11th to help raise funds to keep this establishment running.

Where:  Contemporary Art Gallery
580 8th Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY

Cocktails will be served beginning at 7:30 P.M. Speakers will include:
~Lucky Michaels, Director, MCCNY Homeless Youth Services
~Shawn Tierney, Youth Services Coordinator, LIGALY
~Tanino Minecci, Social Worker, MCCNY Homeless Youth Services
~Sylvia’s Place Alumni

Most of us expect our family to accept us and care for us unconditionally. There are some out there who are not granted the same fortune. Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of youth are rejected by their own families after their sexual orientation is revealed. These youth can become victims of abuse and feel compelled to runaway or forced out of their homes. To futher their hardships, these youths are often turned away or feel threatened in ordinary shelters. With the help of people like you, we can make the difference in their lives.

If you can’t make it to the event but would still like to contribute, please follow this link:
http://www.homelessyouthservices.org/Generalpaypal.html

For more information:  http://sylviasplace.eventbrite.com/

Out Impact is a proud media partner for MCCNY Homeless Youth Services.

NYC Protest Rally Against Prop 8 at Union Square, May 26, 2009: In support, a young woman simply waved a hot pink boa.

Photo Credit:  Allison Tray

NYC Protest Rally Against Prop 8 at Union Square, May 26, 2009:  Live and let Live

Photo Credit:  Allison Tray

NYC Protest Rally Against Prop 8 at Union Square, May 26, 2009:  Make Me An Honest Man!

Photo Credit:  Allison Tray

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3rd:

VANESSA WILLIAMS RED CARPET EVENT (Greenhouse, 150 Varick Street at Vandam in New York City)
Join Ugly Betty star VANESSA WILLIAMS at this special listening party for her new CD “The Real Thing.” Complimentary cocktails provided by Domaine de Canton. All proceeds benefit LIFEbeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door (subject to availability).
8:30pm – 11pm.