Lifetime of an Iranian trans lady
Shaya Goldoust is gearing up for Vancouver’s annual Pleasure Parade in August.
She is celebrating her delight in being each Iranian and Transgender.
“It’s so necessary folks and the world see we’re right here, we live, we’re Iranian LGTQ,” she stated.
Final month Goldoust took half in Toronto’s Pleasure Parade, together with her native pre-revolutionary flag of Iran and the Pleasure flag – united.
It was a second that was as soon as unthinkable for Goldoust.
Behind the cheers and celebrations lies a darker reality.
“I had a variety of issues in Iran as a Trans lady,” stated Goldoust.
She described the persecution she confronted every day in Iran – violence, harassment, and discrimination.
“You possibly can’t inform the police as a result of it’s your fault – and also you’re totally 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, looking for refuge.
“Iran is unsafe, was unsafe for me and folks like me,” stated Goldoust.
Shaya Goldoust strolling within the Toronto Pleasure Parade.
Shaya Goldoust
In September 2022, two Iranian ladies – Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani and Elham Choubdar – have been sentenced to demise by the Islamic Revolution Courtroom of Urumieh.
They have been convicted of expenses of “corruption on earth” and “trafficking.”
Amnesty Worldwide stated their sentence was as a result of their “perceived sexual orientation and gender identification,” 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 against the law punishable by demise below the nation’s penal code.
In January 2022, Iran executed two homosexual males who have been convicted on expenses of sodomy. Human rights teams recognized the 2 males as Mehrdad Karimpour and Farid Mohammadi. They have 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 demise in Iran. The one disagreement between clergies is the strategy of killing. Some imagine they need to be stoned to demise, some imagine they need to be thrown out by a cliff or mountain, some imagine they need to be hanged, some reduce in half by a sword,” Parsi advised World Information.
A majority of individuals are both hanged or stoned to demise, 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. After all, I used aliens and nicknames however in fact they have been looking for out who I’m, “ stated Parsi.
Parsi is now residing in Toronto the place he based the Worldwide Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR) and the Marjan Basis, serving to the Queer group of the Center East.
Parsi arrived in Canada on Could 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 would be arrested, merely to your sexuality. As a toddler when he realized he wasn’t attracted to women, 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 an individual, an Iranian homosexual. We met one another at an internet design course. We had a variety of plans to do a variety of issues for LGBTQ human rights at the moment. However sadly, his mother and father discovered him along with his boyfriend and he determined to finish his life,” stated Parsi.
Parsi stated he took his identify to proceed the dream they each shared.
“I’m nonetheless persevering with my promise to him.”
Arsham Parsi marching within the Toronto Pleasure Parade.
Arsham Parsi
Serving to 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 around the globe, particularly in Iran.
Goldoust takes delight within the images Iran’s rainbow teenagers ship to her on social media.
“They maintain the rainbow flag or Transgender flag in Iran and take an image and ship to me. We try for freedom right here in Iran too,” stated Goldoust
“I feel they’re so courageous, after 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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