Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/518229
June 5-14, 2015 18 viscount-gort.com v PROUDSUPPORTERS OFPRIDEWINNIPEG 1670PortageAve 204-775-0451•TollFree1-800-665-1122 e-mailreservations@viscount-gort.com The story of Arsham Parsi flashes onto the screen. His is a daring story of activism and the creation of community without borders. In his former home of Iran, Parsi, in the eyes of the law, is a criminal. The punishments for his crime range from beatings to death. It is estimated that more than 4,000 homo- sexuals in Iran have been killed since 1979. Risking his life to protect the rights of people of all sexual orientations in Iran, he created a secret Internet chat room for gay men and lesbians, coun- selled suicidal gay teens, and assisted a study about HIV infection. Anonymity can be fragile. In 2005, he was forced to flee to Turkey. He describes crossing the border: "I got so emotional and I couldn't stop crying that I couldn't go back anymore." Even in Turkey, he was not safe. While walking with another Iranian refugee, he was attacked by a furi- ous mob while bystanders simply watched. Granted asylum by the uN High Commission for Refugees, he came to Canada. He founded the Iranian under- ground Railroad for Queer Refugees, securing refu- gee status so individuals can avoid deportation back to countries where they would face persecution. Working with the uN and other support agencies, he assists with housing, jobs, legal aid and counselling. By 2009, over 70% of the people helped by his organization had gained asylum status or been re- settled. Challenges remain. Homosexuals in Iran continue to be killed. This is just one of the many stories told in Can- adian museum for Human Rights (CmHR) galleries. The museum does not house artifacts to be exhib- ited. It gives safe harbour for ideas to be explored. many of those ideas will resonate with visitors look- ing to celebrate and explore the rights campaigns of LGBT persons during PrideFest. The best way to share ideas and reinforce a com- mon cause is through storytelling. "Stories of violation, survival, resistance and in- spiration encourage learning from past and present to enter into an emerging rights conversation about the future," says maureen Fitzhenry, media relations manager for the CmHR. Technology such as digital kiosks, interactive fea- tures, images, film and video are all used to illustrate stories about the rights of people with diverse sex- ual orientation and gender identities. These stories are woven throughout most of the galleries rather than isolated to a single gallery or exhibit. "This approach recognizes that the experiences of all people are connected, and that we must work together to create a better world," says Fitzhenry. The best way to start exploring is at the begin- ning, with the multi-media gallery What are Hu- man Rights? "The massive multi-media show grounds visitors in what human rights means to diverse people," she says. Fitzhenry says plans are underway for a June screening of To Russia with Love, which looks at dis- crimination against LGBT athletes in the lead-up to the Sochi olympics. "At least two other upcoming programs/new ex- hibits that are directly related to LGBT human rights issues are in the works," she says. Finally, visitors should be aware that the building itself was inclusively designed and seven gender- neutral washrooms can be found throughout the building. ◗ a gueST STaNdS IN a Beam of lIghT IN froNT of a SeveN-fooT ScreeN IN The caNadIaN muSeum for humaN rIghTS' TurNINg poINTS for humaNITy gallery. THE RIGHTS STuFF MuseuM exhibits highlight lgbt struggles by WenDy King FoR THE FREE PRESS Plans are underway for a June screening of To Russia with Love, which looks at discrimination against LGBT athletes in the lead-up to the Sochi olympics. "