Centering LGBTQ and minority voices is essential in the fight for equal rights in Iran, according to activists who participated in a discussion hosted by Planned Parenthood Global on Friday. The event, part of the organization’s “This Is Brave” campaign, focuses on the connection between social justice movements. This fight for equal rights connects sexual and reproductive rights with LGBTQ equality, said Crister Delacruz, Planned Parenthood Global’s Senior Director of Global Communications.
Protests have broken out in Iran, with many women and marginalized groups participating, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody last September. Despite violent crackdowns from the Iranian government, the demonstrations have continued and gained international attention. Friday’s discussion featured Cyrus Veyssi, a digital creator and online strategist with a sizable social media following, and Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, a human rights lawyer and founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, as speakers.
Veyssi, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, discussed the responsibility they feel to share content and raise awareness about the situation in Iran given their privileged position in America. Kounkou Hoveyda, who is queer, emphasized the importance of recognizing the layers and diversity of Iranians engaged in protests and movements for social and political equality. Veyssi called on allies of marginalized communities to speak out on their behalf.
The event was applauded for bringing attention to marginalized voices in the ongoing fight for equality in Iran. Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has worked for 50 years to break down barriers to healthcare and advocate for reproductive freedom globally.
