Joint Statement – Rainbow Movement Stands Firm with Student Struggles!

For years, Iranian students and the student movements have played a prominent and pioneering role in the ongoing societal struggles for freedom, equality, and eradicating the inhumane system of the Islamic Republic. Despite repression, arrests, academic deprivation, and numerous other challenges, they have unwaveringly persisted in their fight, standing steadfastly beside their community and taking a strong stance against discrimination, tyranny, and exploitation.

With the dawn of the Woman Life Freedom Revolution in September 2022, we witnessed a new chapter in students’ revolutionary struggle and activism and student movements. Students, with their political involvement and organisation, have emerged as primary drivers in advancing and expanding the trend of nationwide protests and strikes. These students vividly illustrate that the university is the vanguard of societal demands for government accountability and equality, transforming the university into a pivotal bastion of the woman life freedom revolution.

The past year has marked a shining period in student struggles where LGBT+ and queer individuals played pivotal roles in student movements. This achievement was only made possible because the protests and the space of today’s student movement in Iranian society took on a feminine hue and also radically eradicated all forms of discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. In this regard, they have been receptive and supportive of LGBT+ individuals. This characteristic reflects the humane, sensory, and modern culture of the women’s liberation revolution which  is striving to reshape all prevailing cultural, intellectual, political, economic, and social structures and fostering a better world for all citizens, regardless of their differences.

LGBT+ individuals and activists supporting rainbow rights vehemently endorse and support the various struggles of students against all forms of discrimination, inequality, and rights violations, in their endeavour to overthrow the entirety of the Islamic Republic. Through collective and continuous struggle, organisation, and mobilisation, these intertwined movements can effectively advance towards the victory and progress of the women’s liberation revolution. 

December 7th provides an opportune moment to emphasise again the profound solidarity and deep bond between the LGBT+ movement and the student movement.

On this day, as signatories of this statement representing the rainbow rights defence movements, we unequivocally declare our staunch support for the heated struggles of students against all forms of discrimination, inequality, and rights violations in their mission to dismantle the entirety of the Islamic Republic. Additionally, we call upon all LGBT+ students to engage more actively and effectively in the ongoing struggles within universities, articulating their human rights demands alongside those of students and robustly fighting for their realisation.

Warm regards on December 7th,

In hopes of the victory of the Woman Life Freedom revolution.