Representation matters now more than ever
Credit where credit is due: Iran appears to have scored a remarkable victory for inclusive representation on the global stage. The U.S. intelligence community recently assessed that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the dearly departed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is “probably gay,” the New York Post revealed on Monday. The news comes amid reports that “one or two” of the younger Khamenei’s legs were amputated after he suffered severe injuries last month in the U.S.-Israeli airstrike that killed his father.
Assuming the reports are true, Mojtaba Khamenei would be the first-ever LGBT amputee to lead a sovereign nation. Iran’s monumental achievement is certain to invigorate the American progressives who mourned the elder Khamenei’s demise. Many were already inclined to take the rogue nation’s side in its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Democratic activists have long championed the view that inclusive representation—elevating members of historically marginalized groups to positions of power—is inherently meaningful and morally necessary.
There is little reason to doubt Iran’s historic accomplishment, even if the regime is reluctant to take credit for obvious reasons. Khamenei has not been seen publicly since his appointment as supreme leader on March 8, although regime officials did celebrate alongside a taped-together cardboard cutout of his likeness. This has fueled speculation about the supreme leader’s health and ability to walk unassisted.
The CIA’s assessment regarding Khamenei’s homosexuality aligns with earlier reports that he struggled to impregnate his female wife due to a severe “impotency” problem that required several hospital stays in London to overcome. He is believed to have survived the initial airstrike in part because he left the bunker where his father was staying moments earlier “to do something” in the garden, potentially with a male companion.
Intelligence sources told the Post that the assessment of Khamenei’s gayness was “derived from one of the most protected sources that the government has.” He is believed to have had a long-term sexual relationship with a former male tutor, and this was reportedly one of the reasons why the elder Khamenei did not want his son to succeed him as supreme leader.
It’s possible the former ayatollah’s reservations were motivated by homophobia, but that would imply that the legions of LGBTQ+ activists defending the regime are idiots. Ali Khamenei was in many ways an icon of progressive ideology. An avid supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, his hatred of Jews, and willingness to stand up to Donald Trump inspired a new generation of Democratic leaders.
Trump, whose sons are not gay, reportedly “laughed aloud” when he was briefed on the intelligence assessment. The president’s callous response has reinforced the view among liberal activists that the United States is a far more regressive and repressive country compared to Iran.
Maybe the progressives are onto something. It’s true that America is unlikely to elect an LGBT amputee any time soon. The United States has had disabled presidents (FDR and Joe Biden) and presumably some closeted gay ones (Abraham Lincoln and Jimmy Carter), but never an amputee. Barack Obama is probably the closest American equivalent: a suspected Muslim who fantasized about “making love to men.” He had both of his legs, but was shockingly bad at sports. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to be done.
Most Americans reject the progressive view that Iran’s leaders are good and the United States is bad. That doesn’t mean we can’t acknowledge the Islamic Republic’s commitment to uplifting the marginalized through inclusive representation at the highest level. Khamenei might not be able to walk on his own, but he will be remembered as a trailblazer whose diverse perspective enriched and strengthened the communities he served.
Congrats to all!
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