Iranian Queer Organization
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| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | / pglo.irqo.org |
| Focus | Advocacy work for LGBT in  Iran |
| Location | |
| Origins | Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization (PGLO) |
Area served | Human Rights |
| Method | Networking, Campaigning, Advocacy, Outreach, Community Media, TV and Radio |
Key people | Saghi Ghahraman, Niaz Salimi, Amir Bahar, Hamid Parnian, Sam Kosha, Ferdous Bamdad, Roshan Borhan |
| Website | / www.irqo.org |
| Phone: +1 416 407 5451 / Email: board [at] irqo.org | |
The Iranian Queer Organization - IRQO (also known as Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization - PGLO) is an advocacy group on behalf of Iranian LGBT people seeking safe haven both within and without Iran.
IRQO was founded in 2008 by Niaz Salimi, Saghi Ghahraman, Amir Bahar by registration number 1774187. Earlier in May 2007, PGLO was founded by Niaz Salimi, Saghi Ghahraman, and Arsham Parsi. However, later in 2008 Arsham's service was suspended from PGLO by the board of PGLO.
The Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) is a union of like-minded human rights activists - gay, lesbian and straight - who are committed to attaining and maintaining the civil and human rights of the Iranian LGBT community living in Iran and abroad. The path to freedom outside of Iran is filled with unexpected problems. There is a crushing lack of financial and emotional support and queer refugees face the threat of assault on daily basis in transit countries like Turkey, which has a similarly homophobic environment. IRQO wished to devote a large portion of its resources to help LGBT asylum-seekers along their journey to re-establish their lives in a second country. Among IRQO’s current services are those such as assisting newly-arrived refugees with booking medical appointments, finding and renting apartments, registering in schools and colleges, and any other needs that LGBT newcomers have in their first months of living in Canada. IRQO has been working toward providing a strong network of support for Iranian queer refugees so that they can better adjust to their new life in Canada. The board of IRQO consists of six officers:
Saghi Gahraman, CEO & President
Niaz Salimi, Treasurer
Hamid Parnian, Secretary & Cheraq's editor-in-chief
Ferdous Bamdad, Communications
Roshan Borhan, Board member
Sam Kosha, Board member
IRQO’s board responds to the calls of refugees from all around the world assists immigration lawyers with preparing refugee cases, and gives needed information and emotional support to refugees. IRQO has established strong ties with the Iranian LGBT community living outside Iran and has received a definite support and strong trust from the LGBT community inside Iran. At this point, IRQO is relying on sister organizations in Canada to help acquire the experience and the means necessary for its mission. IRQO believes a democratic Iran is unattainable unless the human and civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered populations are protected by law and respected by society.
IRQO’s aim is to advocate the acceptance and inclusion of LGBT identities, familiarizing the Iranian society with sexual diversity issues and working toward the decriminalization of homosexuality, and support the LGBT movements that have already started and advanced inside Iran for a decade. In Iran, LGBT people face threats on their lives from government agents enforcing homophobic laws. Some are targets of their own family members who are set upon honor-killing to rid the family of shame.
In 2008, IRQO was one of the two winners of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's (IGLHRC) Felipa de Souza Award.