HBO Documentary: Be like others - Transsexuals in Iran

[Kelli]

Has anyone seen the full documentary? Your thoughts?

I was pleasantly surprised....

[IndigeoAliquis]

Oh wow. If you identify as moghayirat el jins and want to be strict about haram and halal I understand, that's fine, but.. don't be a hypocrite.
That clip made me sad. Sorry.

[rejennyrated]

Having watched a rather fuller length BBC documentry about this subject a while ago I can honestly say that the picture is not as bleak as you might suppose from that short clip.

It is possibly a little grim if you are merely gay - as the regime doesn't as yet seem to be able to differentiate between the two groups, but for those who are definitely trans it seems like Iran would be a far nicer place to live than Paul Scott's moronic plans for Michigan!

Either way for islamic transwoman Iran is a much better place to live than many states as at least you get afforded full female rights including marriage.

[Keroppi]

Either way for islamic transwoman Iran is a much better place to live than many states as at least you get afforded full female rights including marriage.

Until one realises the female "rights" isn't much in Iran...

[spacial]

There are so many misconceptions regarding Islam and women in Islam especially.

Sad really.

The realities are so much more complicated.

[Keroppi]

It is more complicated than a lot of people understand, but I also disagree with it anyway....

[tekla]

I was never in Iran - it was on the forbidden list when I was over there - but I lived in an Islamic country and visited others.  It's both much more wonderful and much, much worse than any Western depiction can let on.  All Islamic nations are not the same, and Iran is not an Arab nation, it's Persian and that's a huge cultural difference I'm told.  But what I saw in the Kingdom left me thinking that it's not a good place to be a woman, but its much better in Jordan and Egypt.

[girl_ashley]

@rejennyrated:  Do you recall the title of that BBC documentary?  Sometimes I wish I lived in the UK just so I could get the BBC.  The quality of television programs sometimes is so much better.

[rejennyrated]

@rejennyrated:  Do you recall the title of that BBC documentary?  Sometimes I wish I lived in the UK just so I could get the BBC.  The quality of television programs sometimes is so much better.

Yes of course. Rather boringly it was called "Transexuals In Iran" and its original TX date was 25/02/2008 at 21:00 GMT on BBC2.

(As an ex BBC videotape editor turned scriptwriter I tend to make a note of these things)

[justmeinoz]

It was on here last year, and I found it interesting.  Once Khomeini was a supporter, things changed. Now there is a powerful voice from on high they can refer to for support.
I wouldn't like to be a man in Iran, let alone a woman, but if people are prepared to stay in their homeland, and can transition, then at least they now have that choice. 

[Icephoenyx]

It really surprises me that in a place that is so homophobic they treat transpeople with much more dignity. I guess one good thing about that country is that they actually distinguish transgender as different from being gay! Many parts of the West are still having trouble with that!

Chrissi