May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. This year’s theme, “Together Always: United in Diversity,” emphasizes the necessity of coming together to make recognizable differences in the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities all over the world. In the past year, Iran’s queer community has fought endlessly for considerable visibility in cyberspace, proudly raising the rainbow flag and bravely kissing in the streets of a homophobic, transphobic, and biphobic Iran under the Islamic Republic. For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic has denied the existence of same-sex relationships and continues to actively facilitate hatred against the queer community. Khamenei himself is the biggest perpetrator of everything that IDAHOBIT aims to eliminate, calling homosexuality “the modern ignorance of the west.” Only through global unity and support can the Iranian queer community too, be recognized. Until then, countless Iranian queer individuals remain at risk of violence and persecution.
Cartoon of the week: “L’homosexualité réprimée” by Jean Dobritz. Source: CartoonMovement.
