Parsi, a native of Shiraz, Iran, began his activism in favor of gay rights in that city in 2001 at the age of 21, co-founding in 2003 the organization which later came to be known as the Iranian Queer Organization. His advocacy work earned him the attention of the Iranian authorities, and Parsi was forced to flee Iran on March 5, 2005. Eventually he was able to win political asylum in Canada and currently leads IRQO from its headquarters in Toronto.

Chicago's IDAHO event will begin with a brief speak-out featuring remarks by Parsi at 3 PM, Saturday, May 17 in the small plaza just south of Women & Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark Street (one block north of Foster Street). The speak-out will be followed by a march through the community to Gerber Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville, where a reception for Mr. Parsi will be held.

I.D.A.H.O. is a day set aside by LGBT people internationally to focus on efforts to stop anti-gay hatred and discrimination in countries around the world. While I.D.A.H.O. has long been a tradition in Europe and Latin America, this year GLN is helping to bring I.D.A.H.O. to the United States for the first time. The theme for the event will be supporting Russian LGBT people in their effort to hold the 3rd annual Moscow Pride on May 31st, despite government repression and the threat of physical assault by neo-fascists and religious bigots (http://www.moscowpride.ru/).

At the start of Chicago's I.D.A.H.O. event outside of Women & Children First Bookstore, Mr. Parsi will make brief remarks about why Iranian LGBT support Russian gays in their efforts to celebrate Moscow Pride. At the Gerber Hart Library reception following the march, Mr. Parsi will make more extended remarks and lead a discussion about the current situation facing Iranian LGBT people, the threat of war on Iran, and what people in the United States can do to support LGBT people in Iran.

For information more information about I.D.A.H.O. in Chicago, email the Gay Liberation Network at LGBTliberation@aol.com