Board Members

Arsham Parsi

Executive Director (ex officio and Honorary member of the Board)

info [at] irqr [dot] net

The IRQR's founder, Arsham Parsi, is a well-known Iranian gay activist who has dedicated himself to helping LGBT/queer Iranians who flee their country because of the violently homo- and transphobic policies. In 2004, while still living in Iran, Arsham founded the first Iranian gay group called the IRanian Queer Organization - IRQO (formerly Persian Gay and Lesbian Organization - PGLO). With police on his trail because of his gay activism, Arsham fled to Turkey in 2005, where he continued his work to publicize the plight of LGBT Iranians. He was eventually granted asylum in Canada and pursued his work for the cause, being interviewed extensively by media and featured in two documentary films, the CBC's “Out in Iran” and Parvez Sharma's “A Jihad for Love.” In 2008, Arsham was twice honoured, first by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)'s Felipa Sousa Award for pioneering gay activism and then by Toronto Pride with its award for Excellence in Human Rights.

Joni Serio

President (2011-2012)

Board Member (2010-2011)

joni [at] irqr [dot] net

Joni is an active queer rights activist having worked on campaigns for same-sex marriage, trans-equality and safer schools. Joni is currently employed as Manager, Events and Projects for a non-profit provincial health association, where she takes every opportunity to call attention to the needs of LGBT seniors. She has an extensive track record in event management in the private and not-for-profit sector, working on events for audiences of 10 to over 30,000 attendees over the course of her 13 year career.

Panteha Yektaeian

Vice President (2011-2012)

Panteha Yektaeian attended the University of Toronto, where she specialized in philosophy. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Windsor Law School. While attending law school, she was a member of OUTlaws, a student group which works, through activism, social awareness, and education, to bring together law students with an interest in queer issues. She is currently articling at a Legal Aid Clinic where she helps low-income individuals. Panteha is interested in immigration and human rights law

Paul Durber

Secretary (2008-2012)

paul [at] irqr [dot] net

As a member and leader within a welcoming and encouraging faith community in Ottawa, Paul has actively fought discrimination based on sexual orientation including supporting Canadians for Equal Marriage and lobbying federal members of Parliament. This work echoes his push for women to receive equal pay when he was Director of Pay Equity for the federal Canadian Human Rights Commission. Now retired from the public service, he has a consulting business. He continues working within his faith community,  advocating for the right of free speech and association as well as greater social concern at the municipal level.

A. Irani

Treasurer (2011-2012)

We are pleased to have a young queer Iranian and a former refugee on our board of directors who, for reasons of security and caution due to his family's safety and security, has requested that their name not appear on our website. The IRQR is more than willing to accommodate this request as it illustrates the continued risks for queers in Iran

Johanne Gaudreault

Board Member (2011-2012)

Vice-President (2008-2011)

Johanne has been involved in the LGBT communities within Québec and Canada for at least ten years. She is currently the Executive Director of the Montréal-based Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Formerly a board member, including terms as President of the CGLQ (Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec), Johanne was also a writer for Magazine Sapho. Her interests included international queer issues and Johanne was instrumental in obtaining the CGLQ's accreditation as a consultative group to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). She holds a Masters in Sociology from Laval University and was a former Political Attachée to a federal Cabinet Minister.

Javan-e-Irani

Board Member (2010-2012)

Treasurer (2010-2011)

We are pleased to have another young queer Iranian on our board of directors who, for reasons of security and caution due to continued travels to Iran, has requested that their name not appear on our website. The IRQR is more than willing to accommodate this request as it illustrates the continued risks for queers in Iran.