Fanaeian: From Controversial Pro-Gun Advocate to LGBTQ Rights Champion
Ermiya Fanaeian is a known pro-gun LGBT activist who has notably campaigned for distinguished figures in the past, key among them being Senator Elizabeth Warren in the 2019 presidential race. This association could be perceived as an endorsement of Senator Warren’s stance by Fanaeian. Her position as an influential speaker in the Queer and Gun advocacy spaces has brought a unique perspective to the discourse, particularly in Salt Lake City. An instance prompting significant interest is her leadership role in the Armed Queers SLC group.
Not one to shy away from controversy, Fanaeian endorses the notion that occasionally, acts of progressive rebellion are crucial to instigate real change. This view steers away from the traditional advocacy for peaceful negotiations. Fanaeian is a firm believer that the rights and liberation experienced by the LGBTQ community was precipitated by the Stonewall riots, a major point in history that was far from peaceful.
A student at the University of Utah, Fanaeian reiterates that it was these riots that pronounced the urgency of LGBTQ rights, influencing her ability to study in such an institution. She contends that substantive change can only be brought forth through protests, riots, and rebellious acts, underscoring the magnitude of such disruptive movements.
Fanaeian underwent a remarkable transition from being a vocal critic of guns to a staunch supporter. Initially, she founded the local March for Our Lives chapter. This organization is synonymous with David Hogg, a well-known activist focused on advocating for better gun control measures. Despite this early advocacy, Fanaeian subsequently migrated to support the suggested benefits of gun possession.
In a political about-face, Fanaeian opened the Salt Lake City section of Pink Pistols in 2020. This organization is dedicated to arming LGBTQ members in an effort to encourage self-defense. It was KUER Radio that spotlighted Fanaeian’s change of stance, showing a transformation of her views on guns.
Fanaeian confessed that she was initially uneasy with guns, even agreeing with proposed mandates to confiscate civilian AR-15s. Her fear dissolved as she educated herself about firearms, ultimately leading to her becoming an AR-15 owner herself. Such transformations surely prove that proper understanding can bring about positive change.
During an interview with Deseret News, Fanaeian provided insight into why her perspective concerning guns evolved. She referred to the societal misconceptions about who typically represents ‘gun nuts’, breaking the mold that only affords affluent, white men this role. For Fanaeian, firearms represent empowerment, especially for working-class people.
She emphasized her belief in the right for self-protection, expressing her discontent with the lack of political response regarding violence against the LGBTQ community. It is her perspective that politicians of all affiliations fail to address the violence against LGBTQ individuals effectively. In her view, given this situation, the right to be armed should not be denied.
Due to the above conviction, Fanaeian felt a growing disconnect between her views and the goals of March for Our Lives. She believed that the organization she once formed a branch of no longer resonated with her expanded views on the necessity of firearms for self-defense within marginalized communities.
Additionally, in 2022, Fanaeian co-founded an educational group based at the University of Utah. It mainly focused on educating students about the ideologies, history, and philosophical teachings of socialism. Operated under the banner of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, or PSL, this group seeks to provide knowledge about figures such as Karl Marx and Vladmir Lenin.
Drawing inspiration from historical revolutionaries who played pivotal roles in implementing and propagating socialist and communist ideals, Fanaeian’s study group focuses on sharing knowledge from the mid 1900s, a period of great political change. This move could be seen as a continuation of her history in rallying for change within various advocacy spaces.
Historically significant figures like Fidel Castro, Angela Davis, and Assata Shakur, collectively represent the type of ideologues Fanaeian group wishes to explore. Alongside these figures, the group studies the Black Panther Party, Bobby Seale, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This assemblage of historical figures attests to the broad range of ideologies and inspirations that the group wishes to dissect and understand.