HRC Silent as Protestors Rise Up Against Anti-Gay Regime
As Bruce pointed out earlier today, gay groups have been astonishgly silent as millions of citizens rise up against electoral fraud in quite possibly the most oppressively anti-gay regime in the world. And this electoral fraud serves to keep in power Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a man, whom gay leftie blogger Michael Petrelis reports, ” used “Homosexuals to Undercut Rivals.”
I guess that’s only bad when Karl Rove does it.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Joe Solmonese last week condemned the shooting at the Holocaust Museum, yet has nothing to say about the protests in Iran. And I could find no references to the events in Iran on the web-pages of the other gay groups.
At a time when thousands and thousands of brave Iranian democracy-fighters are justifiably upset with their president stealing an election from them and the opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, and they’re taking to the streets to visibily and loudly demand change, I am appalled at how the gay bloggers have praised a letter from HRC. Why accept just a crumb from the $41 million organization?
Well, at least Solomonese wrote a letter to the President. He didn’t even issue a statement in solidarity with the Iranian people protesting their anti-gay regime. It seems it’s only when Republicans do something which is (or could remotely be perceived as) adverse to the interests of gay people does it raise the hackles of the leadership of the various gay organizations, particularly HRC.
Not in thirty years have the Iranian people risen up against their rulers. And this regime is a particularly odious one. Gay people should be celebrating the uprising, not standing by silently while stressing smaller slights against people like us at home. But, speaking up on behalf of Iranian gays and their persecuted compatriots just might upset their solidarity with the left, more focused on promoting Obama and denigrating Republicans.
At least some gay lefties have taken principled positions consistent with their oft-stated ideals of gay liberation. Kudos to Michael Petrelis for standing strong for gay people — and their fellows suffering under iranian Islamofascism — even it it puts him at odds with his erstwhile fellos on the gay left.
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I’m no longer surprised by the non-response of HRC, GLAAD, etc. These organizations are an embarrassment. I don’t think they serve any purpose in the fight against homophobia. The Muslim world needs our help. I never take for granted the freedom I still have to be left alone without fear of being executed.
There is an organization I support called the Iranian Queer Railroad. I think the name is perfect, it was recently changed. Using the example of Americans helping escaped slaves to freedom; they do the same thing for gay, lesbian and transgendered. Here’s the address:http://www.irqr.net. They offer safe housing, food, clothing and legal help. This small organization is doing ten times more than the shallow HRC and GLAAD ever will!!! Check it out and give them your support.
Comment by Scherie — June 16, 2009 @ 9:06 pm - June 16, 2009
What’s in it for him?
Is that anything like Grand Funk Railroad?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 17, 2009 @ 1:11 am - June 17, 2009
#2 – “Is that anything like Grand Funk Railroad?”
LOL, TGC. I bet they do a mean cover of “We’re an Iranian Band.”
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 17, 2009 @ 10:59 am - June 17, 2009
Dinnerjacket, Khamenei and their thugs are a brutal regime. In Iran it does not matter if you are straight or gay. From the reports that I have seen there have been arrests of those who are supposedly behind the uprising, including a former vice-President. My hope is that there will be a real change of the regime and that Khamenei will be ousted. It is my hope, and not yet reality.
There are way more deaths than the 7 that have been reported. I think that one could use a multiplier of 10 or even 100 to guess at the real number of deaths. I have seen some pictures of men who have been shot to death in the streets of Tehran by the Basiji.
The Basiji are the moral police who go around arresting gays and bashing women who show a little bit of hair. This kind of thing has to get the Iranian people angry. It is no longer about the vote. It is a lot graver and the protests all over Iran are at the same proportion as 1979 when the Shah was removed.
If any of you remember what happened at that time, then you also need to know that Dinnerjacket was amongst the students who stormed the US embassy and took hostages – yet your government does nothing about him, even allowing him to come to the USA. (disgusting).
Comment by thestraightaussie — June 17, 2009 @ 4:59 pm - June 17, 2009