Gay Life in Iran

Nazila Fathi takes a look. Apparently there's some public tolerance of transsexuals, but not of homosexuality.

Comments

Hmm I don't know. There obviously are homophobic bigots in Iran, but almost all of Iran's most famous poets (Saadi, Rumi, etc.) were quite obviously gay, and a lot of the literature is about men who have undying love for other men, even if that love is explained as a more mystical rather than carnal type. But yeah, the family is pretty important, so even a gay person would be expected to marry someone of the opposite gender.
As for gays being executed - yes and no. In Iran, you can fuck with anyone, just not the gov't. The boys who were executed in Mashad were fucking the son of a local governor - bad idea, especially since said governor has to go to an extra distance to prove how manly his son is.

Posted by Persian | September 30, 2007 8:09 PM

I think we need to appreciate the New York Times linking to a naked man holding his crotch.

Ladies and Gentlemen your newspaper of record.

Posted by Jack | September 30, 2007 9:52 PM

I recall a story a few years back that one of the major mullahs had a boy on the side. When this was discovered the boy was forced to undergo a sex change to become a woman and the mullah was ordered to wed him/her in order to make everything hallal again.

Posted by Jonf | October 1, 2007 10:12 AM

What I wonder is: how is that fabulous gay life in liberated Iraq going? I imagine the Gay Pride parade in Basra must be spectacular - after all, isn't that what the winds of freedom in Iraq is all about?...

As long, of course, as no drinking, Jews, or barbering is allowed.

Posted by roger | October 1, 2007 10:56 AM

'What I wonder is: how is that fabulous gay life in liberated Iraq going? I imagine the Gay Pride parade in Basra must be spectacular - after all, isn't that what the winds of freedom in Iraq is all about?"

Al-Sistani has said it's ok to kill gay people in Iraq because, you know, Iraq is liberated and the Shi'ite political structure is so liberal that they give Bush sensual rubdowns in the Oval Office.

Posted by Reality Man | October 1, 2007 12:14 PM

Matt, you might consider, as your contribution to "Celebrate Islamofascism Day", the question of why the question of Iraq's gays is never posed to Maliki. You would think that the mainstream press, with its burning interest in Iran's oppressive regime, would want to highlight the great land of tolerance American soldiers are defending with their blood in Iraq. Or perhaps a more cynical reading is that the Mainstream press, ridden by GOP talking points, hypocritically demonizes Iran for what is common practice in Iraq and among our allies in the Middle East. In any case, the Iraqi gay question hasn't been posed, so you can earn blogger points!

PS
I think it is sorta sweet of America's fascists, by the way, to get all multi-culty and recognize the contribution of Islam. I guess it is that David Horowitz has a big heart.

Posted by roger | October 1, 2007 2:46 PM