Monday, February 25, 2008
Transexuals in Iran

http://lgbthmuk.blogspot.com/2008/02/transexuals-in-iran.html

BBC Two documentary explores why so many Iranians undergo sex change operations.

Although homosexuality is a crime punishable by death in Iran, more sex change operations are carried out there than any other nation in the world apart from Thailand, with the government providing up to half the cost for those needing financial assistance.

Handy little Sharia legal-loophole, isn't it?

Iran's 'diagnosed transsexuals'

http://www.persianhub.org/off-topic-free-talk-published/151757-iran-s-diagnosed-transsexuals-18-nazareton.html

By Vanessa Barford
BBC News

Homosexual relationships are banned in Iran, but the country allows sex change operations and hundreds of men have elected for surgery to change their lives.

Quote from: lady amarant on February 25, 2008, 10:40:30 AM
Handy little Sharia legal-loophole, isn't it?

Maybe viewed from the outside.  It would be great if they were actually supportive of transpeople, but really it's all about making you invisible.  RLE is supposedly not allowed prior to the operation, and once diagnosed a transsexual you MUST have the op, no non-ops allowed.  Pretty bad if you change your mind after being operated and getting your first taste of being a woman in a repressive society. 

Lia

Quote from: genovais on February 25, 2008, 06:08:48 PM
Maybe viewed from the outside.

What I meant was sarcastic - they have this law to kill homosexual people, but hang-on! modern medicine provides us with a more enlightened alternative - we can force them all to be women instead. Allah is great!

Sorry, sarcasm doesn't do well on paper.

Yeah.  Just makes me all the more angry when certain gay folk claim we've got nothing in common (except, I suppose, Breakfast at Tiffany's).  If that were the case, how could Iran possibly try to hide it's gay population by making them out to be transsexuals?

Lia

Quote from: genovais on February 25, 2008, 06:58:52 PM
Yeah.  Just makes me all the more angry when certain gay folk claim we've got nothing in common (except, I suppose, Breakfast at Tiffany's).  If that were the case, how could Iran possibly try to hide it's gay population by making them out to be transsexuals?

Lia

People always find a way to justify and rationalise their bigotry. It's a valuable talent. Get's rid of that pesky drive for self-knowledge and sense of wonder at the unknowns of the universe.