Australians voted to change marriage lathe to allow same-sex couple to legally marry, and in a historic move the government voted to pass these these laws so that first same sex wedding took place in early January 2018. However, in some parts of the world LGBT+ activists are working tirelessly for their society's to actually tolerate their existence.
The Rasan Organisation is the only group in the Kurdistan Region, as well as in the whole of Iraq, that works to support LGBT+ individuals by providing counselling, legal aid, health services as well as shelter for those in need.
"We have case management services, where LGBT individuals can visit or organisation or can connect with us on different applications through their phones, or on Facebook, or on Twitter, or by email to ask for physiological, social, and legal services that Rasan provides," says Ayaz Shalal tells SBS Kurdish.
Based in the city of Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Ayaz Shalal is the deputy-director of the organisation.
Originally, Rasan was an organisation working for women’s rights, after shutting down for a number of years, it opened it’s doors again in 2012 and this time aims to work for women’s rights as well as LGBT+ communities.
"We decided to work this time for LGBT [rights] because we realised that there was a gap that we needed to fill, and the LGBT+ communities in the Kurdish region need support and need an organisation to protect them," says Mr Shalal.
Wall art by Rasan Organisation in Slemani reads, "Love has no boundaries" (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) Source: Rasan Organisation
It is worth noting that this is in the same region where IS has repeatedly carried out horrific crimes against those suspected of being homosexual.
What Rasan Organisation provides could be considered a lifeline for LGBT+ individuals in a region where homosexuality is still considered a social taboo.
In Australia, South Australia was the first jurisdiction to decriminalise male homosexual activity in 1975, and from 2003 onward Australian states and territories began granting domestic partnership benefits and relationships to same-sex couples.
A wall art about marriage equality that was blacked over and re-painted by Rasan Org in Slemani (Kurdisan Regin of Iraq) Source: Rasan Organisation
As to whether a similar path could be followed in Kurdish Iraq, Mr Shalal is hopeful, saying "I am very optimistic."
He explains, "because especially in Kurdistan...the Kurdish community, whether it consists of Kurds, or Arabs or any other nationality or religion... people's minds are flexible, people are open minded more than the rest of Iraq - which is sad and happy at the same time."
"We are still in the stage of explaining what is L, what is G, what is B, what is T, to people, so imagine asking for marriage. We are still asking for coexistence so people can live."
In spite of this,when it comes to the marriage equality debate, Mr Shalal says that as advocates they would not even think about asking for same-sex rights. "I want to congratulate Australia," he says. "This is a step towards liberty, freedom, and democracy, and very pleasing."
"But for Kurdistan I think it is very early to take a step like this, and people will not understand definitely and will vote against it."
"We are still in the stage of explaining what is L, what is G, what is B, what is T, to people, so imagine asking for marriage.
"We are still asking for coexistence so people can live."
The Rasan Organisation continues to work with communities despite the economic and political crisis in the Kurdistan region.
Ayaz Shalal againt Equality sign in Slemani in Kurdistan Region Source: Supplied
Ayaz Shalal believes if they had more support, they would be able to extend their work in other parts of the Kurdistan region including in the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk, to reach as many LGBT+ members as possible.
"If Rasan organisation was supported more, we are planning to make our work more inclusive to include all the other cities of the Kurdish Region, including Kirkuk city, and so we can reach as many LGTB members as possible...to provide them different kinds of services," says Shalal.
"And we want to do more advocacy with the government and different entities who have power and authority in the country, so we can ask for coexistence and respect for LGBT community."
Listen to Shalal's full interview (in English) with SBS Kurdish Radio in the audio player above and listen to the Kurdish version below:
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