>But a majority of Iranians, apparently including their
>President, have not adopted the idea of sexual orientations, nor have
>much of the rest of the Third World.
He didn't say anything about orientation. He called homosexuality a "phenomenon." It is also noteworthy that his initial response to a question about execution of homosexuals was to talk about why executing drug smugglers is ok because they destroy youth:
>But as for the executions, I'd like to raise two questions. If
>someone comes and establishes a network for illicit drug trafficking
>that affects the youth in Iran, Turkey, Europe, the United States,
>by introducing these illicit drugs and destroys them, would you ever
>reward them?
>
>People who lead the lives -- cause the deterioration of the lives of
>hundreds of millions of youth around the world, including in Iran,
>can we have any sympathy to them? Don't you have capital punishment
>in the United States? You do, too.
[...]
>QUESTION: Mr. President, the question isn't about criminal and drug
>smugglers. The question was about sexual preference and women.
>
>(APPLAUSE)
>
>AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): In Iran, we don't have
>homosexuals, like in your country.
>
>(LAUGHTER)
>
>We don't have that in our country.
>
>(AUDIENCE BOOING)
>
>AHMADINEJAD (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): In Iran, we do not have this
>phenomenon. I don't know who's told you that we have it.
>
>(LAUGHTER)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401042.html