Iranian LGBT rights movements date back to about half a century ago. A history with ups and downs, with people, with names like MAHA or HUMAN. It has maintained its progress up to now.
By Mordad (22 Jun - 22 July) 1389 Iranian LGBT society faced a serious shock :
“We, a group of Iranian homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals, have chosen the 1st Friday of Mordad as ‘Iranian homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals National Day”
The above sentence is taken from a group’s manifest which was signed by name of ‘Rainbowians’ (Ranginkamaniha) and was published in a blog with the same title.
It was soon after, that some people tried to support and spread the day on internet. Under this propaganda some people accepted the date. But some criticized the action, they were mostly faced with harsh reactions or apathetic treatments from the supporters. In the end, the day was polled on Facebook.
All people have the right to struggle to gain democracy as long as they don’t violate the rights of others. When there is any kind of violation in spite of having a probable good result in consequence, it is not considered as democracy yet. Sometimes it is not possible to have a real democratic atmosphere, but there must be more endeavor to make a better democratic decision. Are our decisions made democratically? What about deciding on National Day date? Was not it better to be chosen by a large number of more active and sagacious members of the Iranian LGBT society?
Rainbowians responded: We wish we could have asked all LGBT members for their ideas, so that we could choose the day regarding all ideas, as a result there would be communal agreement on the day.
But how come the supporters conducted some controlled and limited polls after the decision was made?
When the process of choosing the National Day is analyzed, some points are realized:
1- A short term and shallow goal
The National Day’s goal which is mentioned in the manifest is “a day for happiness and gatherings”, whereas such day is expected to have more serious and long term goals e.g.:
Nationality) how will the chosen date express the nationality of Iranian LGBT society? Being happy in that day would show our nationality? Isn’t that better to have some good plans for the day to introduce our nationality and nationalistic attitudes? The goal must be a representative for the community, but as we see this was not considered in the manifest. The lack of having a good goal will hinder the future planning, plans which could help the Iranian LGBT society.
Social acceptance) sexual orientation acceptance is a serious obsession for Iranian LGBT members. This could remove most of the LGBT community’s problems and would help them to great extent. Holding parties and gatherings for a society that is in danger of death and is mocked by nation is not a way toward social acceptance. On the other hand, it causes more friction with nation and puts a strict limit on activists.
Pride and honor demonstrator) demonstration of the Pride and honor of the LGBT society must be a part of the goal. Does the decided date show these? Is happiness a good demonstrator for Iranian LGBT’s Pride and honor? The date is surely incapable of this.
Unity) as it is understood from the term, National Day, it must be a reason to unite all members with different political or social views and lifestyles. Does the decided date cause this? Is a small group of unidentified LGBT members able to unite all members with their sudden and irrational decision? How is that possible when we can not even trust on unidentified people?
2- Friday
What is the reason for choosing Friday as National Day? If the happiness comes as the goal then Friday will be justified, but is the LGBT society merely after happiness? The Friday may have some more problems:
Variable dates) Friday is a week day, it doesn’t have a permanent date in calendar, the same as other weekdays. A particular date must be assigned to National Day so that it becomes invariable and support worthy.
Disregarding Iranian LGBT members in foreign countries) Friday is an Iranian and Islamic holiday. If Friday as a holiday has been chosen to be the National Day, what should those who are not Iran do? Should they celebrate on Saturday or Sunday? Even if the happiness is the goal, this day will not cover those who are not in Iran.
Similarity to religious and political ceremonies) the last Friday of Ramadan in Iran is officially known as Quds Day , expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and opposing Zionism. Choosing Friday as National Day wouldn’t recall such commemorations? This kind of resemblance may cause different problems for Iranian LGBT society.
3-Baseless
The National Day is expected to have a rational basis. Unfounded date will cause a state of anarchy and disunity. In this case, different people are able to choose different dates individually; this will spoil the values of a real National Day. Critics have repeatedly mentioned the necessity of having a grand basis.
Inefficient publicity) Iranian LGBT society is faced with a primary question “what has happened on 1st Friday of Mordad that it is chosen as the National Day?” If the answer is “some chose the day to be happy”, then what is the reaction from the nation? Lack of basis, blocks the way of advertisement and introduction activities. If there be a grand basis, the National Day will be well and widely publicized.
Respecting predecessors) as was mentioned before, Iranian LGBT movements have a relatively long history tied with lives of major people and events. Isn’t disregarding these people and their efforts a disrespectful behavior? A historical date or day dedicated to these people is better than a day without any kind of basis.
Golden opportunity) Iranian LGBT society has been insulted and mocked during past years, loosing its basic rights. Shouldn’t we counteract these behaviors and use them as useful occasions? The day could be a golden opportunity for Iranian LGBT society to claim their rights and show their appalling condition to the nation. It could be a means of petitioning for LGBT respectful existence.
Self-appointed) Self-absorbed manner is a probable reason behind such a decision. Rainbowians decided based on their own interests and personal will. They expect the whole LGBT society to follow them; they call those who stand against them unfavorable groups. As it is understood from the manifest, rainbowians have justified the National Day by their own activity. Is this self-centered manner approved by LGBT community and will it unify all members?
Points mentioned above are all evidence of a weak decision made by a group. But there is a more interesting point, supporters have been supporting the day without knowing who started this movement (pioneers have concealed their identity up to now) and have always rejoinders to any criticism.
There were responses to critics, but all firmly insisted on keeping the day alive. These reactions from supporters remind us the George w bush speech when he said: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.”
Now the LGBT society is facing a pre-decided date that the supporters want to impose on the whole community. In this situation, critics are the unfavorable party, and supporters are like a bunch of favorable laymen for the so-called leaders.
Now, after some months, supporters say: “Mordad 1st Friday was a proposal, what if this proposal wasn’t made? What would you do?” The point is that no one allows himself to make a self- centered and non-democratic decision for whole LGBT society. But having a hegemonic behavior, some allow themselves to decide, and impose their decision adopting a democratic posture.
Hegemony is the political, economic, ideological or cultural power exerted by a dominant group over other groups. It requires the consent of the majority to keep the dominant group's leader in power.
Hegemony is sometimes more threatening than dictatorship as it abuses the given consent to impose the dominants interests on a society. But all must know that hegemony era has ended and no one can individually decide for LGBT society and impose it. Now with popularity of cyber-communications and a glorious history of LGBT movements no one is allowed to decide for others.
No one should forget the historical day of Saviz Shafiy’s speech in Shiraz university, or the first time publication of an Iranian LGBT magazine (MAHA) or the execution of homosexual couple (Ayaz and Yaser) in Mashhad, or denial of homosexuals existence in Iran by dignitaries or so many other dates and days.
Hopefully, this act is expected to be a setback in way of hegemonic LGBT groups and a medium to spread the democracy popularity among LGBT young generation.
We salute
Ayaz, Yaser and Saviz purity
All the past activists
All the caring people now and ever
Iranian LGBT society
By a group of Iranian LGBT members
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