Iranian-LGBTQ D.C. World Pride 2025
Memorandum of Understanding
The organizers of Iranian-LGBTQ are excited to participate in the World Pride Washington, DC 2025, showcasing our diverse group and authentic selves at the marquee World Pride parade on 14th Street NW. To ensure our message to the world is clear and well-defined, all participants must register with the organizers and receive confirmation before they participate in the parade. The organizers also request that everyone participating in the parade respect and follow the guidelines set forth below to ensure a safe and strong presence on the day of the parade.
Raha International, the sponsoring group for Iranian-LGBTQ at World Pride Washington, DC 2025, is a non-religious, non-political, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. As part of its policy, Raha does not allow public expressions (i.e., carrying any posters, signs, outfits, etc., homemade or not) that promote or denigrate any country, political candidate, political party, political affiliations, or international entities. However, homemade poster signs commenting on social justice issues surrounding Iranian-LGBTQ identity are permitted. For example, posters that advocate and promote equal treatment of LGBTQ individuals in Iran, social justice for Iranian queers, denouncing capital punishments or hangings of LGBTQ in Iran, etc., are permitted.
We believe that “Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul.” World Pride is a rare opportunity for our intersectional community to focus on the challenges and plight of LGBTQ Iranians inside and outside of Iran. Therefore, messages, banners, posters, etc., about the struggles in other parts of the world would only dilute our message, create distractions from our primary goal, and are not welcome.
The organizers seek to ensure that the appearance of our group accurately represents what it means to be Iranian-LGBTQ. LGBTQ Iranians are invited to march with us, up to the maximum capacity of 50 people. This decision of anyone participating in the Parade group is at the discretion of the organizers of Iranian-LGBTQ.
We are aware of the strong opinions and emotions around the different expressions of the current flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the different ethnic Iranian flags, and politically affiliated flags. To address this point of contention and remain above any related controversies, we have designed a flag that reflects both our national heritage as well as our sexual orientation and gender identities. Therefore, we will only welcome the internationally recognized pride (rainbow flag) and its variations (for example, the progressive pride flag), the flag of the United States of America, and the Iranian-LGBTQ flag that the organizers have explicitly designed and approved for the parade.
