[lbo-talk] "Islamofascism Awareness Week"

[BklynMagus]

> I have given here much information, especially 
concerning the claim that Iran's government is 
hanging "the queers" but also on other subjects 
in your statement, that contradicts what you say 
are "facts."

The fact that Yoshie types "the queers" as if we 
were some imaginary animal is part of my problem. 

Queers exist.  Iranian queers exist (some are my 
friends).  So the scare quotes are inappropriate.  
Not all Iranians identify as queer, but those that 
do should be allowed to do so without fear of torture 
or death (which my friends say is a real possibility 
and has occurred to others).  Even the Dutch government 
(which hates queers less than most) had to back down 
in the face of evidence and reverse their intial ruling 
that queers had no right of asylum based on fear of 
torture or death.

The fact that the Iranian government does horrid things 
to queers does not mean that it should be subject to 
imperialist interference.  But the fact that I or anyone 
else opposes imperialist activity towards Iran, does not 
commit us to silence about Iran's treatment of its queer 
citizenry (unless a person argues that people do not have 
the right to claim the sexual self-expression of their 
choice.  If that is the argument, then Iran does have the 
right to torture and kill those people who choose to be 
sexual in a way that is declared to be unacceptable).

Brian