‘Fighting for all’: Vancouverite shares Iranian LGBTQ+ pride | 24CA News
Life of an Iranian trans girl
Shaya Goldoust is gearing up for Vancouver’s annual Pride Parade in August.
She is celebrating her satisfaction in being each Iranian and Transgender.
“It’s so important people and the world see we are here, we are living, we are Iranian LGTQ,” she stated.
Last month Goldoust took half in Toronto’s Pride Parade, together with her native pre-revolutionary flag of Iran and the Pride flag – united.
It was a second that was as soon as unthinkable for Goldoust.
Behind the cheers and celebrations lies a darker fact.
“I had a lot of problems in Iran as a Trans woman,” stated Goldoust.
She described the persecution she confronted every day in Iran – violence, harassment, and discrimination.
“You can’t tell the police because it’s your fault – and you’re different.”
Goldoust had gender affirmation surgical procedure in 2012 and feared for her life in Iran.
She left Iran in 2016, escaping to Turkey the place she additionally confronted discrimination and torment, she stated. Goldoust arrived in Vancouver in 2020, in search of refuge.
“Iran is unsafe, was unsafe for me and people like me,” stated Goldoust.
Shaya Goldoust strolling within the Toronto Pride Parade.
Shaya Goldoust
In September 2022, two Iranian ladies – Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani and Elham Choubdar – had been sentenced to dying by the Islamic Revolution Court of Urumieh.
They had been convicted of fees of “corruption on earth” and “trafficking.”
Amnesty International stated their sentence was on account of their “perceived sexual orientation and gender identity,” and for “defending” 2SLGBTQIA+ rights on social media.
The United Nations demanded Iran instantly halt their executions however Iran stated its authorized system prohibits homosexuality and same-sex relations.
Homosexuality is a criminal offense punishable by dying beneath the nation’s penal code.
In January 2022, Iran executed two homosexual males who had been convicted on fees of sodomy. Human rights teams recognized the 2 males as Mehrdad Karimpour and Farid Mohammadi. They had been hanged within the northwestern metropolis of Maragheh.
Persecution of an Iranian homosexual man
Arsham Parsi is a queer activist who was exiled for love.
“Homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran. The only disagreement between clergies is the method of killing. Some believe they should be stoned to death, some believe they should be thrown out by a cliff or mountain, some believe they have to be hanged, some cut in half by a sword,” Parsi instructed Global News.
A majority of individuals are both hanged or stoned to dying, he added.
In 2001, Parsi based an underground group in Iran to assist the marginalized and oppressed 2SLGBTQIA+ group. That made him a goal.
“My actions grabbed the eye of the authorities. I discovered they’re looking for me. Of course, I used aliens and nicknames however in fact they had been looking for out who I’m, “ stated Parsi.
Parsi is now dwelling in Toronto the place he based the International Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR) and the Marjan Foundation, serving to the Queer group of the Middle East.
Parsi arrived in Canada on May 11, 2005. He stated he has two birthdays – one when he was born in Shiraz, Iran – and the opposite following his escape from Iran to Turkey and ultimately asylum in Canada.
In Iran, he stated the police might knock at your door anytime and you may be arrested, merely to your sexuality. As a baby when he realized he wasn’t attracted to ladies, he was terrified as a result of he knew he may very well be killed for who he was.
Arsham was not the identify he was born with.
“Arsham was a person, an Iranian gay. We met each other at a web design course. We had a lot of plans to do a lot of things for LGBTQ human rights at that time. But unfortunately, his parents found him with his boyfriend and he decided to end his life,” stated Parsi.
Parsi stated he took his identify to proceed the dream they each shared.
“I am still continuing my promise to him.”
Arsham Parsi marching within the Toronto Pride Parade.
Arsham Parsi
Helping others
Goldoust is a journalist working in Farsi media and is a producer and host for a Farsi radio program targeted on Iran’s queer group.
She has turn out to be an inspiration for members of Iran’s 2SLGBTQIA+ group world wide, particularly in Iran.
Goldoust takes satisfaction within the pictures Iran’s rainbow teenagers ship to her on social media.
“They hold the rainbow flag or Transgender flag in Iran and take a picture and send to me. We are trying for freedom here in Iran too,” stated Goldoust
“I think they are so brave, when I was in Iran I couldn’t do it.”
A photograph of a rainbow little one shared on social media.
Shaya Goldoust
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