Global Gaze: Transitioning Iran
Due to its bi-weekly nature, Global Gaze, regrettably, is not always the timeliest column in terms of what’s going on in international affairs at any given moment. This week, however, we’re going to address a subject that’s very much on many people’s minds this week, both in terms of the country in question and the fact that it coincides with the premiere of a new documentary tonight on HBO.
The country we’re highlighting this week is none other than the Islamic Republic of Iran, which, unless you’ve managed to completely avoid your television, Internet connection and newspaper for the last couple of weeks, has been featured prominently in the international media due to the unrest following the disputed election in that country. Despite a crackdown on foreign press, Iran has been on many people’s minds and lips around the world. While the political implications of this turbulent time are incredibly important for the country and the world, today we’re going to look at a different facet of life in Iran that has also been getting some attention recently: the unique status of transgender individuals in Iran.
Looking back over the last year, from the debate over ENDA to the attack against transgendered individuals at a local DC lesbian establishment, it’s become clear that the relationship between the LGB and the T in America is a complicated and sometimes contentious one. In Iran, however, these divides are even more pronounced and obvious. As mentioned in a previous column, Iran, with its strict adherence to Islamic law, is one of the countries in the world where being openly homosexual is a crime punishable by death. It may seem paradoxical then, to note that not only does Iranian law allow for sexual reassignment surgeries, but that they are actually surprisingly common, comparatively, for the region.
Mostly transsexuality exists in Iran as a topic that is not really directly addressed by the government. However, since the 1980s, transgendered Iranians have been officially recognized by law and sex change operations are totally legal. Muslim scholars in the country have declared that the Qur’an doesn’t actually address corrective procedures, and so they are not condemned by the penal system. Whereas these scholars interpret their sacred text to declare homosexuality a sin, and therefore a crime, transsexuality gets no such treatment.
As we’ve seen with many international queer issues, the official policies or laws of a country rarely match societal attitudes or the reality “on the ground,” so it’s not enough to just look at formal laws. There are, as one might expect, still issues related to the stigmatization of and discrimination against transgender people in Iran and additionally, trans individuals often face problems such as limited access to clinics which perform sexual reassignment surgeries and a lack of funds necessary to obtain one. The interplay between homosexuality and transsexuality is also complex, as some clerics in the country have advised sexual reassignment surgeries for all homosexuals, believing that transforming them into opposite-sex couples will allow them to lead a “normal” life. Luckily, multiple government commissions and NGOs currently exist to help stop the stigma and facilitate the transition process.
While the foreign media has been cracked down on in Iran, there have been ways for Iranian transgendered individuals to get their message out. Current TV and the show Dateline have both done segments on the topic on US television. Also, while Twitter has emerged as an incredibly useful tool for getting out the stories of protesters and opposition groups during this time of political turmoil, transgendered Iranian youths have been using the social networking site to report on their lives and experiences for a while now. There have also been a number of documentaries made on this topic including Transsexual in Iran and A Jihad for Love.
Returning to the idea of timeliness, a new film premieres on HBO tonight (6/24) entitled Be Like Others. This documentary was released last year and has won multiple awards at international film festivals across the globe. In this preview clip, it’s striking to see two transsexual youths talking about bringing shame on their families in the way they dress, but noticeably not in terms of their identity as trans. It’s interesting to witness the strict confines of modest dress being discussed when the larger issues of transsexuality seems like it would be a much more controversial topic. It serves as a pretty striking example of how queer issues truly are dealt with differently all over the world.
For anyone who has access to HBO, I recommend you check out the film tonight and report back. (I, unfortunately, am one of the unlucky ones who does not have such access, so a report really would be appreciated by yours truly!) Also, anyone else with more information about this fascinating subject, please add your two cents in the comments below.
PS – For the next installment of Global Gaze, I will be compiling a “state of Pride” post, so to speak, surveying how Pride celebrations around the world turned out this year and what differences could be seen from year’s past. If you’ve attended a Pride celebration in another country either this year, or ever, and would like to briefly share your experiences with Global Gaze readers, please email your thoughts to jolly@thenewgay.net ASAP!
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