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Saviz Shafaie collection, 1979-2008

 

Summary

Creator:
Shafāyī, Sāvīz, 1950-2000
Abstract:
Saviz Shafaie attended the University of Central Florida as a student seeking a master's in social work. Originally born and raised in Iran, he was an activist in both Iran and America, fleeing to exile in America upon the change in government in the late 70s. He was also an Iranian poet and a businessman; owning and operating Powerhouse Restaurant in Winter Park. Saviz remained an activist until his passing from cancer in the late 1990s. His mother donated his collection to the LGBT History Museum of Central Florida in 2010 as a gift. These materials, along with an addition, were transferred to the University of Central Florida Special Collections and University Archives in 2021. This collection houses various photos, artifacts, and clippings related to Shafaie's activism through "We the People Coalition," HOMAN, AIDS awareness, the University of Central Florida's GLBSU, and other LGBT and Iranian activist groups.
Extent:
1.25 Linear Feet 3 boxes
Language:
English Persian Iranian languages
Preferred citation:

Saviz Shafaie collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

Series I: Activism, 1981-2001 contains documents related to Saviz Shafaie's activism through "We the People Coalition," HOMAN, AIDS awareness, the University of Central Florida's GLBSU, and other LGBT and Iranian activist groups and materials such as ads, schedules, and newspapers clippings.

Series II: Photographs, 1979-1998 contains photographs and related scrapbook-style materials taken of and by Shafaie at various LGBT activism events.

Series III: Artifacts, 2003-2008, undated contains buttons, pins, a medical bracelet, and two poetry books related to Shafaie's LGBT and Iranian activism.

Biographical / historical:

Saviz Shafaie was born on August 30, 1950, into a political family. Shafaie grew up learning poetry and literature not just through books but through anecdotes heard from numerous "uncles" and "aunts," as it was customary to call his parents' close family friends and contemporaries. This mix of politics, social activism, and art shaped his life.

After finishing elementary and secondary school in Tehran, Shafaie enrolled in Shiraz University (formerly Pahlavi) to study National Development and Sociology. In 1972, he delivered a speech to present the results of a questionnaire and research he had done to study attitudes towards sexual orientation in Iran. The speech was socially important, as it marked the first serious discussion in Iran of same-sex relationships.

After graduating from Shiraz University, Shafaie moved to the United States in 1976 to continue his education. He enrolled at Syracuse University in the Master's Program in Sociology. During his time at Syracuse, Shafaie got involved in Iranian student groups and explored gay and lesbian issues to expand his own understanding.

Shafaie was involved in the anti-Shah movement in the United States during and after the gathering movement against the Shah in 1977. Although he was opposed to Iran's U.S.-backed monarchy, Shafaie was not in favor of an Islamic regime either. He was involved in organizing civil, intellectual, and political rights campaigns both before and after the 1979 Iranian revolution. Shafaie also spoke out against oppression and repression that occurred after the consolidation of power by the Islamic regime.

Shafaie always remained a staunch opponent of U.S. intervention and policies, which opened other paths for Shafaie as he came in contact with activists surrounding the issues of Latin America. Shafaie became involved with activists who stood in solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution, the movement in El Salvador, and those fighting against the U.S.-backed military junta in Chile. He became an active member of the Syracuse Peace Council and remained involved until his move to Orlando, Florida, in 1983.

In Orlando, Shafaie quickly became involved with various movements. He became a founding member of the Florida Nuclear Freeze group and a member of the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice. Shafaie also became instrumental in organizing anti-war activities, and a proponent of social justice causes in the city. Shafaie continued to be involved in organizing against the first U.S. war against Iraq in 1990 and also remained an opponent of U.S. aggressive and interventionist policies in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Amidst other activism, Shafaie spent the majority of his time in Orlando fighting homophobia and sexism as well as promoting civil and equal rights for gays and lesbians. He was involved in gay and lesbian activism locally. He also became centrally involved in the Iranian organization HOMAN, an international coalition of Iranian gay and lesbian organizations. Shafaie was both a contributor and one of the forces behind the production and publication of HOMAN's magazine.

Additionally, Shafaie raised the issue of also homophobia in papers presented at an Iranian Women's Studies conference and at several gatherings in Canada. Saviz Shafaie passed away from cancer on September 18th, 2000.

The materials in this collection primarily relate to Shafaie's LGBT+ activism in Orlando, though there are mentions of Iranian activism as well.

Acquisition information:
Gifted by Maheen Shaghaghi, Saviz's mother, to the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida in 2010. Gifted by the LGBTQ+ History Museum of Central Florida to University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections University Archives in 2021 (Accession no. CFM2021_22).
Processing information:

Collection processed by and finding aid prepared by Kyle Messamore in 2013. Updated and processed by Kalynn Smith in 2017. Rehoused and new materials integrated and processed by Trinity Cruz in 2022.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in three series.

  • I. Activism, 1981-2001
  • II. Photographs, 1979-1998
  • III.Artifacts, 2003-2008

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be seured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

Saviz Shafaie collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA