Ardesher Nwazad – The Power of Simply Being Yourself

At IraQueer, we love to celebrate the bright, powerful voices within our community. Today, we are honored to introduce you to Ardesher Nwazad.


At 26, Ardesher is a man of many layers. Born in Baghdad to a patriotic Kurdish family, he holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master’s in International Law. But beyond his academic achievements, Ardesher’s journey is one of profound self-discovery and resilience.


Finding a ReflectionArdesher knew from a young age that he was different. Like many of us, he found his first "mirror" in pop culture. While watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he found himself inexplicably drawn to the character Angel (and honestly, who could blame him? Angel was the definition of "broody and unavailable"). Though he didn't have the words for it yet, he accepted the feeling as it was.


By 14, that feeling grew into a realization: he was gay. It was a lonely time; he often felt like an outsider when his classmates talked about girls, unable to share the same feelings. His first taste of community came through the digital world—a Kik group chat with 30 queer teenagers from across the globe. For the first time, he wasn't alone.


The Right of PassageArdesher’s coming-out journey began with a fellow member of the community—a lesbian friend. As many in our community say, coming out to a lesbian is a true "rite of passage." This positive experience gave him the courage to tell another friend from school. Her response? "I already knew." That simple acceptance emboldened him to start living more authentically with those around him.


From A Gathering to ActivismThe true turning point in Ardesher’s life was a gathering  designed to empower queer people in Kurdistan. Before this event, his interactions with other queer people had been limited to dating apps.
At this event, everything changed. He met lesbians and trans people in a purely platonic, supportive context. It was a profound "click" in his mind: he didn't need to force himself into heteronormative boxes to belong.


"I have met the best people in my life through trauma," Ardesher says. "It was the personal challenges I faced that led me to meet such amazing people."


Inspired by the community he found, Ardesher transitioned from a participant to a leader. He began his activism journey with IraQueer, attending advocacy training, the Swedish Lab, Protest Lab, and Qawsuna. These experiences gave him a blueprint for what a safe queer space should look like. Today, he and his partner have turned their own home into a small, vital sanctuary for their friends—a place where they can simply exist without fear.


Living BoldlyArdesher’s professional path has been equally transformative. His first "queer work experience" was volunteering for IraQueer back in 2017. Later, after navigating a homophobic and misogynistic environment at a previous firm, he used the confidence he gained through activism to seek out a more inclusive workspace.


At his current firm, he took the brave step of coming out to his colleagues. For the first time, he felt truly liberated, no longer exhausted by the weight of hiding who he was.


A Dream for the FutureWhen asked about his dream for our community, Ardesher’s answer is simple yet powerful:
"I want the community to just breathe."


Because queer identities are so often politicized, many in the community live in a constant state of "high alert." Ardesher dreams of a day where being queer is no longer a reason to be targeted—a day where peace is the default.


His words of wisdom to you:
"Please take care of each other. Advocacy and activism can be nerve-wracking, but you don't always need to be on the front lines. You can be an activist simply by being you."


Today, Ardesher is thriving. He is happily engaged in a healthy relationship and stands as one of the leading activists in Kurdistan and Iraq. We are so proud to call him one of our own.