the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) launches the first episode of a commissioned graphic novel, Yousef and Farhad, a story about the struggles for acceptance by two fictional gay men in Iran. This weekly publication will be the start of the digital campaign: #LoveForAll. The campaign kickoff on Facebook includes weekly episodes in both English and Farsi with additional posts about the real life struggles of LGBTIQ people in Iran and across the world.
The novel was created in partnership with the Algerian-American political cartoonist Khalil Bendib, and the award-winning Iranian-American author Amir Soltani, creator of the best-selling graphic novel, “Zahra’s Paradise.”
The full 20-page novel will be available to download at www.iglhrc.org at a date to be announced in the fall. The novel will include introductions by Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi; the Iranian-Norweigan singer and TV star Tooji; and Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, each offering their perspective on the human rights concerns at the core of the project.
Iranian Queer Organization-IRQO is thrilled to be invited by International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commision – IGLHRC to publish the story of Yousef and farhad at the same time as the story is published in sequences on IGLHRC website. In addition to the page on Facebook “Yousef and Farhad” You can also follow the story here on IRQO webseite.
[toggle title=”Episode 1: When the truth starts to come out… ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 2: Mr. Jafari struggles with the truth…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 3: what ‘is so terrible?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 4: what can be worse an addict, thief or murderer?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 5: Mr. Jafari sees only Shame and dishonor, A sickness without a cure” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 6: Mr. Jafari faces his grief with anger…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 7: Mr. Jafari’s Revelation ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 8: Will Mr. Jafari accept his son?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 9: The truth can sting” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 10: What do your own parents reject you? ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 11: Where will Yousef go? ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 12: Where can Yousef find support? ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 13: Rejection can lead to isolation” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 14: Lost and searching for a home…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 15: Will Yousef finally find someone to accept him ?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 16: Yousef finds family that will listen to him …” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 17: The smallest gesture of kindness, can mean the world to someone struggling… ?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 18: My dearest Iran” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 19: Mr. Jafari adds insult to injury…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 20: Where does the blame fall?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 21: Crossroads…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 22: Would you rather be a martyr or a reincarnated?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 23: Skeletons in Mr. Jafari’s closet…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 24: There are no gays in Iran according to…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 25: Goodbyes are even harder when they aren’t mutual…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 26: A FEW DAYS LATER: ” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 27: Rainbow can be found during stormy weather…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 28: Hhmmm… so, who is Farhad?” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 29: people exist, everywhere…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 30: All creatures have immunity…” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 31: Safe Space …” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Episode 32: Back In TEHRAN” state=”close”]
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[toggle title=”Final Episode : People can change…” state=”open”]
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Following the Facebook serialization of a love story Yousef and Farhad about a gay couple in Iran, OutRight Action International, the global human rights organization, released the full 20-page graphic novel to download for free. (Click on Picture)
