Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi expressed his commitment to defending the rights of every Iranian, including those in the LGBTQ community.

The prince made the remarks after being honored with the Outspoken Award from the Log Cabin Republicans, an organization affiliated with the Republican Party dedicated to advocating for equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Pahlavi emphasized his pride in standing up for the rights of the Iranian LGBTQ community. He acknowledged the courage of his compatriots inside Iran, stating that “it is my brave compatriots inside Iran who truly deserve this honor because they are not only speaking out for their freedom. They are fighting for it. And they are not only fighting to free themselves; they are fighting to free the region and the world from the clutches of this regime and to usher in a new era of peace.”

The Log Cabin Republicans (LCR), known for promoting LGBTQ+ rights within the Republican Party, presented Prince Reza Pahlavi with the Outspoken Award on Sunday.

The Iranian LGBTQ community has played a pivotal role in the Women, Life, Freedom uprising, actively participating in both domestic and international protests. Despite facing the threat of execution and other forms of punishment under the laws of the Islamic Republic, LGBTQ individuals in Iran continue to bravely confront such dangers.

Iranian authorities have, in the past, employed derogatory labels and stigmatization when addressing LGBTQ citizens, referring to them as "deviant" and "sick" based on Islamic laws that prohibit same-sex relations.