There are no homosexuals in Iran. Fancy that.

Presumably the 4,000 other gay men and women hanged, stoned to death and beheaded in Iran since 1979 would also have appreciated the irony of knowing that they were also somehow invisible to the very same government that was executing them.

In the UK, gay-bashing on the high street and in the schoolyard is still rife, but in terms of gay-friendly legislation it seems we’ve never had it better. Gay people can adopt children, legally have sex at the same age as straight people, join the army, have a civil partnership and take to court any company that discriminates against them. Most importantly, gay people in the UK are not committing a crime simply by being alive, as they are in 84 countries across the world. In these countries, homosexual ‘criminals’ may be forced into heavy labour camps, suffer torture, face life imprisonment, or, as in Iran, be executed.

But while LGBT rights in the UK and Iran are thankfully very different, there is still some uncomfortable common ground. So, for example, we might be appalled that Iran executes children for being gay, but we can conveniently ignore the fact that 40% of gay children bullied at school in the UK have attempted suicide. Fundamentally, gay rights are simply human rights, regardless of what country you happen to live in. We all deserve the right to live safely and comfortably, without fearing for our lives. Is that so much to ask? But, of course, it’s not really an issue anyway. In the UK we don't have homosexuals, we don't have this phenomenon, I don't know who has told you we have it… MS

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