four iranian groups support july 19th protests:

there is at least four groups of queers, who are
mainly in iran, who are declaring support for the july
19th protests.

those who don't know, the american queers were sort of
"in two" over this. hrw and iglhrc called for a calm,
rational debate. many queers, organizations, on the
other hand, went for a protest in the streets (joining
more than 25-city protest around the world.)

i, personally, thought both were needed. but the
aftermath created an ugly scene.

afdhere

*****

http://pglo.net/english/076.htm

Announcements - The Letter of Iranian Homosexuals’
Right Activists for the International Day of July 19th


Homosexual Ladies and Gentlemen, transsexuals and
transgender, the human right activists and peace
lovers along with people who love democracy and
equality, we have been informed of a creative protest
of July 19th about the discrimination against
homosexuals and execution of teenagers with homosexual
interests.

With this letter and on behalf of the society of
Iranian Homosexuals we declare our support for your
act of protest on July 19 (28 of Tir) and wish you
success.

Our dear Worldly Friends, 27 years passed form the
Islamic revolution in Iran. It is 27 years now that
the execution of homosexuals in Iran has been legal.
It is 27 years now that women in Iran have been
considered secondary citizens. It is 27 years now that
the basic rights of students, workers, ethnic and
religious minorities in Iran have been denied from
them. It is 27 years now that in Iran oppositions and
thinkers has been oppressed. For 27 years now the
storm of censor has been affecting thinkers and
intellectuals and our writers and journalists have
been arrested, jailed or lost their right to publish
their thoughts and ideas. Because of their ideas
millions of Iranians left Iran and emigrate from their
homeland. The Islamic Republic has isolated Iran and
insulted our people’s intelligence, pride and honor.
They have driven our country toward international
crises, sanctions and war. Despite all this it has
been 27 years that the struggle for peace, freedom,
human rights and equality continues. It has been 27
years that we have tried to form various social and
political parties and different organizations in order
to recognize the rights of minority and stand against
execution of children and homosexuals.

It has been obvious that Iranian government does not
recognize homosexuals’ rights in Iran. They publicly
declare that there are no legal limits for
transsexuals and legally they can have a transgender
surgery (which is very expensive). They use this as
an excuse to deny existence of homosexuals and believe
that every one should be a heterosexual man or woman.
According to this belief every one that has a
“problem” should have an operation and “transform”
her/himself. In other words the government does not
recognize the sexual diversity.

Let along that even for transsexuals no social
prospect is provided after the operation and many of
them have to fall into prostitution in order to make a
living. Denial of homosexuals in the country, their
oppression and complete ignorance of their rights has
caused many homosexuals to live in the worst
psychological and social condition which results in
frequent suicides, depression and seeking asylum to
other countries.

Today’s world is more like a village and unlike in the
past, the governments cannot hide the oppression and
refusal of the civil rights. When people’s battle to
achieve democracy and freedom faces government’s
oppression and resistance, they have the right to
reach out to the rest of the world and reveal their
government’s wrongdoings.

We, a group of homosexuals inside Iran, are glad and
welcome the fact that the lack of democracy and human
rights especially in treating homosexuals has come to
your attention. Using this letter we express our
appreciation and admiration for the united efforts of
all the organizations, which support human rights and
rights of the homosexuals around the world, in
opposing the execution and the increase of pressure on
sexual minorities in Iran. Together with you all we
also ask the Iranian regime to put a stop to all
executions, especially juvenile executions, change the
regulations designed to punish homosexuals, guarantee
equal rights for the citizens, stop censorship and
accept rights of different groups and NGOs to create
independent organizations.

Together with you all we also express our opposition
to any military offensive against our motherland and
believe that any such action will turn Iran into
another Balkan will destroy the current dynamic
movement for human rights and democracy in Iran.

To our friends all over the world once more we send
our support and appreciation for your protest on July
19th and we believe that freedom and democracy in Iran
is achievable throughout efforts and struggles of the
Iranian public and actions of different social groups.
We attempts to join its efforts with other social
movements of the country in order to create a strong
social right movement. We need your support and the
support of all other groups and countries and we
highly value all international supports.

We are honored by your attention to the human rights
situation and the issues around ignorance of
homosexuals by Iranian government. We will try our
best to publish your message widely and we will join
you by all means on July 19th even if it is only a
symbolic act of lighting a candle next to our window.
The hope for the better world will be always in our
hearts.

We hope for the day that we meet face to face in the
first Gay Pride Festival in free and democratic Iran.



Delkade: The E-Magazine of Social and Literal of
Iranian Homosexuals

A Group of Homosexual Bloggers in Iran

The Commission of Iranian Homosexual Rights and Gender
Minorities

Cheragh: The Media for Persian Gay and Lesbian
Organization

Raha Radio: The Radio for Persian Gay and Lesbian
Organization

PGLO: Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization