Cover Letter

To whom it may concern, 

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m reaching out because I would like to submit a research paper for consideration. In this paper, I show how heterosexuals in the 21st-century deal with and how they interact with homosexuality in Iran. This is very important to me because lots of research papers focus on those in the LGBT community and what they face. But we never asked ourselves how do people deal or interact with people in the LGBT community and what made them either send so much hatred or love. This manuscript shows a different perspective and explains two different views on how people feel about the LGBT community. To be more specific, this manuscript is focused on a specific country which is Iran. Throughout the manuscript, I state the history of the LBGT community. I go on to then talk about what one view on how people feel and the actions that are portrayed on the community and how it affects them. I also explain the other point of view and the different actions that were portrayed. 

I can confirm that this work is original and was not published anywhere else. f there are any concerns please reach out to my email: [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.

Best Regards, 

Fargana Abden

Journal Manuscript: Being In the LGBTQ Community in Iran

“If there are two such persons among you, that do this evil, the shameful act what do you have to do? Torture them, punish them, beat them and give them mental torture” (Sister Ruby Ramadan). The LGBT community is not welcomed in Iran and there are many negative opinions towards the community. Although the Iranian population has liberal views, being gay awakes conservative opinions towards the LGBTQ community. Sexual activity between members of the same sex is illegal and can be punishable by death and many face legal challenges. The development of the LGBT community has awakened the social perspectives in Iran towards them. Many research papers focus on those in the LGBT community and what they face. However, in my research, I’m researching how heterosexuals in the 21st-century deal with and how they interact with homosexuality in Iran, socially and politically.
Firstly, to the difference between a heterosexual and a homosexual. Heterosexuality is romantic/sexual attraction or having sexual behavior between two people of the opposite sex or gender. Homosexuality is when a person is romantic/sexual attraction or having sexual behavior between two people of their sex (female, male, etc.). To move on, the history of the LBTQ community in Iran first started around the Parthian Empire and the text Vendidad (is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta (religious text)) was written. This contained provisions that are part of a sexual code. It then promotes “procreative sexuality that is interpreted to prohibit same-sex intercourse as sinful.” However, later on, the homosexual tradition in Iran by Greeks from the 5th-century onward. During this time period, prohibition had little effect on Iranian attitudes and sexual behaviors. Later when Iran was under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah, who was the last monarch of the Pahlavi dynasty, where homosexuality was tolerated even to a point where the news would cover the same-sex marriage. Finally, the 1979 Revolution was against the Shah’s government and was outrage with the same-sex marriage of two mends. This leads to anti-homosexual oppression in Iran and after the revolution, thousands of people were executed in public which included homosexuals. There are no homosexuals in Iran, the regime has put them all to death. But why? Well, it’s due to a religious purpose and the way society is built up. We’re always taught that men and women are supposed to be together rather than teaching others about the LBGTQ community or dehumanize a human being for liking the same sex.
We understand why, but how do heterosexuals in the 21st-century deal with and how they interact with homosexuality (people) in Iran. In definition, there is a difference between heterosexuals and homosexuals, but one similarity is despite what their preferences are for the opposite or the same gender/sex, we’re all human beings. However, heterosexuals in Iran think the opposite. In recent studies, a former Iranian prisoner stated “the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen, is how they treat homosexuals. They were chained like animals, hands, and feet. Some of them spent years in solitary confinement. The guards kicked them worse them animals. They spat on them, yelled at, and insulted them. They were dragged to the toilet, like animals – with a dog leash. It was shocking.” Furthermore, for women, they’re forced into marriage and punishable with 100 lashes. Being gay in Iran is punishable by death under Islamic criminal law. Homosexuals are constantly being harassed, mistreated, and many die because of their sexuality in Iran. Being caught will put them in humiliation, abuse, arrest, torture, and execution. Living openly as a gay/lesbian person is impossible and only exists only in secrets. Some don’t even acknowledge their sexuality. The former president of Iran, Mahmud Ahmadinedschad stated that “In Iran, we don’t have homosexuals… I do not know who has told you we have that.”
To add on, religion plays a big role in homosexuality. Iran is a Muslim-majority country so Islam plays a big role in people’s life. The Quran (holy book in Islam) states five parts in the Quran that have refereed to gay and lesbian behavior and says how it’s a sin. One reference in the Qur’an is “27.055 Would ye approach men in your lusts rather than women ay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant.” With the Quran stating these statements, some heterosexuals go to the extreme where they don’t acknowledge those in the community and it makes people fear to come out. Saeed a 25-year-old who is gay living in Iran and mentioned how “Ninety-five percent of gays in Iran will never come out.” Coming out has been a traumatic experience; parents would lock their children inside the house, threaten/beat them, and force them to seek therapy to “be normal.” This leads to how heterosexual fix homosexuals. In Iran, they have the highest number of sex reassignment surgeries because this seemed to be the “cure” for homosexual men and women. This was the opposite of curing someone and instead, “it increased depression, social anxiety, identity crises, self-harm, and suicide for those forced or coerced into such a dramatic action.” Parents also force their homosexual children to have a sex-change operation because this is the “cure.” Also, statistics showed that four thousand to six thousand both males and females have been executed since 1979 for engaging in same-sex relationships and marriages. Iran’s Islamic law also considers same-sex relationships a crime punishable by the death penalty. So if being gay means you will get the death penalty, no one would want to come out and risk their lives.
Iran’s Islamic law was designed to prevent people to be open about their sexuality in Iran. Said stated “I didn’t ask from God to be gay. I would love to be straight, to have a normal life. But if you believe in God and believe that everything is made by God, then it’s not in our hands.” How can one accept themselves if their surroundings do not even acknowledge them? Studies also show the usage of alcohol and drugs. Selling or buying drugs and consuming alcohol has been affecting many lives. In October 2018, 460 people were hospitalized in Iran after consuming homemade alcohol and consuming unknown drugs. People’s lives are also at risk because there’s engaging in sexual activities that put their actions physically, mentality, and socially and their life was at risk. These sexual activities tend to happen in public and underground get-together or parties. They’re also put in positions where people can take advantage or blackmail them.
Homosexuals are fighting back. They are protesting and constantly helping those in danger due to their danger. But there are also heterosexuals who are in Iran fighting for those LGBT rights. For those who support the regime regarding homosexuality is a violation of the “divine order.” Over the last two decades, it gained significant visibility and grabbed attention across the globe. Iran, in particular, has received plenty of coverage due to the work of international non-profits. The first-ever movement for the LBGT community was in 1972. A scholar name Saviz Shafai gave a public lecture on homosexuality at Shiraz University. Then in 1976, he researched sexual orientation and gender issues at Syracuse University. This still doesn’t stop people from fighting for the LGBT community. By 1990, he has joined the first human rights group in Iran. 2001, an online Iranian LGBT rights organization called “Rainbow” was founded by Arsham Parsi. He’s a well known Iranian gay activist and in 2008 he renamed the group as “Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees” because the founder of this group had to flee Iran. So he continued his work an exile, where it’s an underground LGBT rights movement in Iran. Ali Maif is an openly gay Iranian-born comedian. All his shows mention his status as an Iranian citizen and him being proud of who he is regardless of anything. July 2009, the Iranian election had many protests and it was reported that several openly gay Iranians joined the crowds of the protesters in the United Kingdom. In 2010, a group of LGBT activists inside Iran declared a day to be Iran Pride Day which is on the 4th of July and celebrated annually in secret. Last but not least, in 2012 one organization that has been helping Iran is called OutRight Action International. This is an International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission where they discuss some of the theological, legal, and social issues facing LGBT-identified people living in Iran.
To conclude my statement and answering my research question, this shows how heterosexuals in the 21st-century deal with and how they interact with homosexuality in Iran socially and politically. There shouldn’t be any discrimination or have any restrictions on one’s freedom. People in the LGBT community are finding ways to communicate with one another and created a safe zone space for the LGBT community. Many still face discrimination and experience with emotions of fear, anger, rejection and more. Some ways to help can also be creating an information-sharing system that members can access with specific gay communities. It’ll overcome physical and psychological hurdles by giving them a sense of belonging in the world, giving them the freedom to pursue happiness, and giving them a meaning in their lives.