Mani Zaniar (Executive Director)

The Iranian LGBT Human Rights Organization’s founder, Mani Zaniar, is an Iranian gay activist who Left Iran to Turkey on 2006. He featured in Out in Iran documentary by CBC Canada while he was in Iran.

After that the authorities came to him and he had no choice but escape. He granted refugee status by office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ankara and now he is living in the Netherland.

Aria Iranara (Executive Assistant)

Aria Iranara, is an Iranian activist who founded Iranian Homosexual Foundation while he was in Iran. He is in Germany now and getting involved with Iranian Homosexual Union in order to help his queer fellows.

Arsham Parsi (Communications Coordinator)

The IRanian Queer Railroad’s founder, Arsham Parsi, is a well-known Iranian gay activist who has dedicated himself to helping LGBT/queer Iranians who flee their country because of the violently homo- and transphobic policies. In 2004, while still living in Iran, Arsham founded the first Iranian gay group called the IRanian Queer Organization - IRQO (formerly Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization - PGLO). With police on his trail because of his gay activism, Arsham fled to Turkey in 2005, where he continued his work to publicize the plight of LGBT Iranians. He was eventually granted asylum in Canada and pursued his work for the cause, being interviewed extensively by media and featured in documentaries by Out in Ian by CBC Canada and “A Jihad for Love” by Parvez Sharma. In April 2008, Arsham was honored by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) with its Felipa Sousa Award for pioneering gay activism and in July 2008, he was selected by Pride Toronto for its award for Excellence in Human Rights.