We are queers.We are lesbians. We are women. We are feminists. We demand equality, justice, and human dignity for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, or social status. We stand united with women, queer individuals, and all who are oppressed. We challenge structures that, under the guise of „masculinity“\u2014a toxic and fragile form\u2014dominate the world. This masculinity conceals its weaknesses behind a facade of power, oppressing anything that threatens its dominance. Even in 2025, many women suffer daily humiliation and hatred because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This toxic masculinity denies women in Afghanistan and Iran the right to education, work, and freedom of dress. In my country, Iran, homosexuality is criminalized under Islamic law, with severe punishments. Additionally, many culturally backward religious communities contribute to widespread homophobia. Under international law, forced displacement, when widespread or systematic, may constitute a crime against humanity. Legal vulnerability, family abuse, social exclusion, and constant government surveillance create a relentless cycle of forced migration. Many report domestic abuse, coerced marriages, conversion therapy, and threats of imprisonment as direct reasons for fleeing Iran. Nearly half experience monitoring or harassment by Iranian authorities even after leaving, illustrating the transnational reach of state repression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This same toxic masculinity uses female genital mutilation to rob women of sexual pleasure and abortion bans to make women\u2019s bodies public property. This patriarchal structure isn\u2019t confined to the Middle East. Even in Europe\u2019s heart, cultural institutions like the Cannes Film Festival are influenced by this toxic masculinity, dictating what female artists may wear, how they should appear, and how far they may progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recognize this struggle is not solely a women\u2019s issue. However, women who choose to live independently of men face the greatest rejection and opposition. Lesbian women challenge not only the patriarchal system but also entrenched expectations of womanhood. By simply existing and making their own choices, they defy societal norms, making them targets of particularly intense attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, we stand against a system that locates \u201cmasculinity\u201d not only in cis-male bodies but wherever patriarchal power is perpetuated. Toxic masculinity can emerge from a woman\u2019s mouth, be conveyed by a mother, or\u2014perhaps even more painfully\u2014be wielded by another lesbian woman against her own sisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We declare: We will not be silent. We will not hide. We will not retreat\u2014from our love, our freedom, or our right to exist, live, and decide for ourselves. This struggle will continue until the day when no one is excluded from humanity due to their identity, gender, or orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, we celebrate our presence, strength, and sisterhood. History has shown us that suffering is neither constant nor permanent. The blood shed by our peers will not be in vain. We will raise our flag with pride and continue fighting until we achieve equality for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We are queers.We are lesbians. We are women. We are feminists. We demand equality, justice, and human dignity for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, origin, or social status. We stand united with women, queer individuals, and all who are oppressed. We challenge structures that, under the guise of „masculinity“\u2014a toxic and fragile … Dyke*March: tox. masculinity & bodily rights in Afg. & Iran<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1807","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1808,"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1807\/revisions\/1808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.queerpridedd.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}