Are you ready? This month, the LGBTQ+ Focus Feature spotlight is on potentially lesser-known activist Arsham Parsi. Born in Iran, he worked in secret to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. This included being part of a secret Yahoo chat club in 2003, whose members worked together to envision better ways to seek out further rights. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave Iran in 2005 and seek refuge first in Turkey and finally Canada, where he has since remained. However, he is still avidly working towards creating more equality in Iran. Fairly quickly after leaving Iran, Parsi was asked to speak at the United Nations Human Rights Council, which brought global attention to the harsh conditions for queer individuals living in Iran and the Middle East.

During his time in Canada, he has founded the International Railroad for Queer Refugees (IRQR), which seeks to support individuals throughout Iran, the Middle East, and more to find refuge. The organization has aided in the relocation of 2,000 people from Iran. They also regularly document and report crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in Iran to bring to light many of the issues which are swept under the rug due to homophobia.

Many of the individuals supported by the IRQR take up refuge in Turkey. Though this is often somewhat safer than Iran, Turkey is still a very hazardous and dangerous place for these people to be. Parsi himself experienced inhumane treatment and breaches of human rights in Turkey due to his sexuality while he was a refugee. Because of his first-hand experiences, he hopes to help bring more refugees to safer countries, like Canada, where they can truly express themselves and their sexualities. This is crucial for ensuring true safety and security for many Iranian and Middle Eastern queer refugees.

More recently, the Sarasota World Affairs Council, a United States based non-profit organization aimed towards raising awareness of global issues, had Parsi speak at their April 5th, 2022 lecture. In addition, Parsi has continued to coordinate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Canadian Embassy in Turkey since 2008 to facilitate the relocation of queer individuals to safer situations. Though it is not perfect, they have maintained an 80% success rate in these endeavors and many processes involving refugee situations have been expedited due to his efforts and those that work in the IRQR. One of his goals is to return to Iran one day once it has finally dismissed its homophobic legislature and political climate.

Dear Queer Auntie,

I am not sure what to label my sexuality. I used to think I was bisexual, but recently I heard of pansexuality. What's the difference between the two? Are they the same thing? I know I like more than one gender, but I'm not sure what label to use.

Signed,
Very confused

Hello there, dearie!

Thank you for your question! It's quite a common one. You're not alone in your confusion with these two terms as they are often used interchangeably. I encourage you to choose the term that you feel most comfortable with. Take your time, and don't feel like you have to use a label if you don't want to.

Here are a few things that could help with deciding. Bisexuality is the attraction to two or more genders. These can be any genders. They are not exclusively limited to the male and female binaries. Some bisexual folks might have a preference between the genders they are attracted to, but not all do.

Pansexuality is the attraction to all genders. Often, pansexual folks don't have a preference as they are attracted to others regardless of their gender. Though, pansexual folks that do have preferences exist and are just as valid! Put simply, pansexual folks tend to be attracted to the person, not their gender.

Please continue to do your own research as well! You may consider learning about other labels such as omnisexual and polysexual. I'll give you a very brief definition of each. Omnisexuality is the attraction to all genders while recognizing their partner's gender. This is different from pansexuality as this is the attraction to the person and their gender. Polysexuality is the attraction to many, but not all genders.

There are so many labels to choose from so make sure to do your research and find one that you identify with. Or don't. Like I mentioned earlier, it is perfectly valid to choose not to use a label. I hope this has helped, and know that you are loved no matter how you choose to identify!

Love,
Your Queer Auntie