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Transsexuals in Iran
29-Feb-2008
If you are a Jewish Iranian, living in the U.S. from the age of 6, it is very likely you don't like Ahmadinejad. So of course you would like to show how you hate him and how he is such a liar and how evil the entire government he represents is, in any way you can.
So you decide to attack one of the only positive angles Iran has been reported: Sex-change. And why not connect it to Ahmadinejad's speech in your city's university, Columbia, where he said in Iran homosexuality doesn't exist the same way it does in the U.S. (We all know the united Republican/Democrat anti-Iran front translated that to a denial of homosexuals in Iran.)
Tannaz Eshaghian's 'Be Like Others' (or 'Transsexual in Iran,' as BBC titled it) is a well-made documentary, but it is dishonest and unfair. (Watch it on iPlayer) It basically try to say being gay in Iran is so hard that forces gay men to go through the brutal process of sex-change. So even though the Islamic Republic look surprisingly cool with transsexuality on the surface, it is actually killing scores of gay men by separating them from their family, forcing them into a constant struggle of identity, inflicting physical and psychological pain on them -- and turning them into prostitutes, in the end.
But this is not exactly what every viewer would see in the film. They might ask, for instance, if being gay is so hard, how come Ali (Anoush's boyfriend) doesn't feel marginalized, isolated, or even under any kind of pressure?
Ali likes Anoush even before Anoush does the sex-change operation and while he still has male sexual organs. So if Iran is so cruel to homosexuals and hangs them, how come Ali is still not only walking, but working as a hairdresser and even is so comfortable with his name, face and identity be revealed by the film?
Ali's character, in my mind, is the most important one in the film and he is the one that undoes the main message of them film. He is a living evidence of how homosexuality exists in Iran and how and why it is tolerated, and Eshaghian fails to bring it into her core message of the film.
He shows how homosexuality, as a social phenomenon, doesn't exist in Iran because the lines between being straight and gay has historically been blurred in the Iranian culture. Sexuality has never been forced into strict categories in Iran and this could be quite related to what Judith Butler argues in her work.
But the film is also dishonest in details. The most important part, which is also central to the core of the message, is when she shamelessly mistranslates the young cleric who defends sex-change operations. He says transsexuality has nothing to do with homosexuality which is "immoral and irreligious". But guess how it is translated by Eshaghian to twist his logic: "something unnatural and against religion." Wow!
I don't want to get into the list of funders and producers of the film. But I can't resist the temptation of raising two questions. Especially given the continuous anti-Iran propaganda the BBC Two has produced and showed in the past few years.
a) Why Alexandra Kerry's name (Yes, John Kerry's daughter), as a co-producer is missing from the BBC credits?
b) Why the name of another co-producer, Ilan Ziv, an Israeli film-maker and producers with such films as Human Weapon (on the history of suicide bombing traced back to Iran), People Power (on 'non-violent revolutions around the world' with insight from Gene Sharp, 'a leading expert on non-violent struggles') is also removed from the BBC credits?
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Anti IRI is not anti Iranian
by yetanotherexmuslim on Tue Mar 04, 2008 08:31 AM PSTDon't mix the Iranian people with the backward IRI bunch; this is anti IRI as they are killing Gay people.In the early days of the revolution, one of their Kangaroo courts even killed an abducted and abused 14 year old boy along side his abuser, despite the evidence that the boy was kept by force and was indeed a victim.It is not just 6+ year old Jews who hate Ahmadinejad, most of us do.
Transgender people are not necessarily gay, and I would suspect that Gay people would rather flee Iran than amputate their genitals.
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender
Enough of this anti Semitic, anti U.S. rubbish, we all know that the real enemy of Iranian people are the Mullahs.
b namus, Derakhshan has
by oheyla P. (not verified) on Mon Mar 03, 2008 07:40 PM PSTb namus, Derakhshan has never simplified the problem to the Bush vs. Ahmadinejad dichotomy you are talking about. He says the BBC documentary is inaccurate and a piece of propaganda and explains why.
Then he says, unlike some parts of the world, in Iran, sexuality doesn't fall into strict and mutually exclusive categories and therefore homosexuality is a foreign concept to the Iranian culture. In fact, he is right. just read some Hafez and Saadi and Rumi and Khayam to see how it used to accepted to publicly desire boys for such highly respected men.
I looked up the word fascism and honestly didn't find any relation to this article. Perhaps you should elaborate a little bit?
Great point of view
by Mastaneh (not verified) on Mon Mar 03, 2008 01:17 PM PSTI liked your point of view it was very awakaning
I am not pro or none pro of anyone but those situations exist and we can not deny it,If they can not attack directly ,,they do it indirectly ,Just look at so called Democrat J- Liberman (a Jewish Rep of Minesota) speeches and opinion ,he is number one fan to bomb Iran or attack Iran (no wonder he sticks to Mc cain(Republican) )...But he hides it under his smile and among his speeches you can read between lines..(just an example).
The other question is for all my friends here :At which period It was OK to be gay in Iran not at Shah's time and not ever ..Not only Iran if you look around world only few countries mostly Europeans did recognize gay right or homosexuality style of living
None in Middle East so far.I think its their way of living has nothing to do with me we are free to chose,
I am not anti gay or pro ..
cognitive dissonance and critical engagement
by b namus (not verified) on Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:26 AM PSTSoheyla, I assure you that if there was any substance to hossein's article worth engaging with, I would have done so. However, Derakhshan's article does not move beyond a so-called argument that urges readers not to be critical of the Iran of the islamic Republic and goes so far as to call those who are critical of the fascistic policies of the current Iranian government as being complacent and abetting the American attack on Iran. This is a simplistic world view and some of us refuse to choose between bush and ahmadinejad...we dare to say NO to both....there is no argument in Derakhshan's article to engage with and no substance to speak of...it lacks any legal paradigm or any engagement with the Iranian governments persecution of all those individuals who have dared to question the system or have dared to live their lives as they see fit. i suggest you look up the definition of the word fascism and re-read hossein's insipid and vacuous article.
Look in the mirror
by deev on Mon Mar 03, 2008 07:51 AM PSTComplaining about "dishonest and unfair" when you're such a character is hypocracy.
re: Anti-Akhoond
by Arabeh Khar Keer (not verified) on Mon Mar 03, 2008 06:41 AM PSThey Anti-Akhoond, they say people who hate gays are themselves gay. So shall we take a stoll along the beach together?
Hoder is Bisexual like ALL Iranians
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sun Mar 02, 2008 03:57 PM PSTHoder is absolutely right. Homosexuality is NOT forbidden in Islamic Iran, nobody has ever been executed for homosexual acts, and every Iranian citizen is bisexual. The "lines between being straight and gay has historically been blurred in the Iranian culture." A good example: Hoder. He is a FAG who pays whores of both sexes to have sex with him.
Israelis or their
by Anonymous2211 (not verified) on Sun Mar 02, 2008 09:21 AM PSTIsraelis or their supporters: you're not allowed to leave comments here. move on.
Shit.... if they didn't leave comments here there would be no body here.
So what? Haven't you guys
by Farhad khane Gol (not verified) on Sun Mar 02, 2008 06:16 AM PSTSo what? Haven't you guys ever taught cute Persian swear words to an American? So how suddenly if someone else does the same, he deserves to be executed for disrespecting women? Come on LA! Stop this filthy hypocrisy.
To: Soheyla P
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:21 PM PSTNo self-respecting woman defends an Islamo-fascist agent of the IRI like Hoder. But you are probably a Fauti Commando and in love with swear words your protégé teaches other women.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V0fUN4mt34
To: Soheyla P
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:21 PM PSTNo self-respecting woman defends an Islamo-fascist agent of the IRI like Hoder. But you are probably a Fauti Commando and in love with swear words your protégé teaches other women.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V0fUN4mt34
Good points Hoder. 90% of
by Jay (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:19 PM PSTGood points Hoder. 90% of these morons didn't even see the BBC piece. Just because we noted the bias of this show doesn't make us an IR lover. That is why this regime is still in charge. Because its so called opposition has its head up its ass. Grow up.
Vulgar Hoder Teaching Swear Words to a Girl
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:09 PM PSTThis is the extent of Hoder's civility and knowledge.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V0fUN4mt34
Vulgar Hoder Teaching Swear Words to a Girl
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:08 PM PSTThis is the extent of Hoder's civility and knowledge.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V0fUN4mt34
Vulgar Hoder Teaching Swear Words to a Girl
by Anti-Akhoond (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:08 PM PSTThis is the extent of Hoder's civility and knowledge.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V0fUN4mt34
to:Soheyla, Anony 2211, Abe lincoln et al:
by aaj sr (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 09:19 PM PSTYou may not know Hoder=Hossein Derakhshan. Suggestion is to check his previous blogs dating back since last 3 years, you would get to know him and you would react the same as others who are furious about his discordant, "colour changing", "bend wind-ward". You would see how his nasty, untrue, false accusations notes, blogs has effected many innocents, hard working, individuals, including many volunteer human rights activists, while he may have prised them at earlier period. He has lost credibility among many of us. Those who have been around do not trust him nor take him seriously. He is a dangerous individual in his writings for those who do not know him enough and according to many, he would pay dearly for all his acts/atrocities/innocent bashing in very near future.
I ike unbiased opinios like Hoder's.
by Abe Lincoln (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 07:59 PM PST.
That last comment was for
by ManofIdeas (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 06:59 PM PSTThat last comment was for the "M.D." guy
how insecure can you be if
by ManofIdeas (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 06:57 PM PSThow insecure can you be if you need to include your academic qualifications in your name? On the other hand looking at your English and spelling I guess you're right...it momentarily diverst people from the fact that you're a semi-literate moron.
To that A@@Hole kesafati
by Anonymous2122 (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 05:51 PM PSTthe name you chose really tells alot about you. you're telling me or anyone else here to go back if we have something negative to say? huh?
you better not tell me this to my face. i have lived here for more then 35 years and i can tell you where to put it.
dear iranian friends, if you see something wrong, feel free to talk about it. IRI is the only thing that is wrong. when i look around me i see lot of policies that are wrong and only talking about it makes changes possible.
Marg bar jomhorieh ertejai!!!!
by kazem (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 02:25 PM PSTراه نجات، هيچ به جز انقلاب نيست
جز اين، هر آنچه هست به غير از سراب نيست
MEK Members Are Everywhere!
by Pissed Off (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 01:29 PM PSTThe regime is desperately trying to discredit MEK, but it seems MEK members have infiltrated all IRI military and non-military organizations.
//www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41416
DOWN WITH MULLAHS' DICTATORSHIP! POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
Transsexuals in Iran....................
by Faribors Maleknasri M.D. (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:13 PM PST.........Another anti-Iranian propaganda that doesn't exactly work how it should. And what do you suggest? how should a propaganda against ISLAMIC REPUBLIC of IRAN be designed in order to work exactly and efficiently? Exactly in this sense means - for me - to destroy that Republic over night, to open the gates, doors and windows for those all around - but stil ouitside Iran - standing dogs and pigs, permanently grunting and barking and dreaming from past "better days"? How should a anti-Iran propagand be established to be effective in this sense? can you explain please? How should it be created? Since 30 years are propagandas running and stil have "IRANIAN"s to suffer. A immediate cure for all these suffering is now most neccessary. where is it? one can read a lot of suggestions how "IRANIAN"s could get rid of Today-Iran and one can read daily many more complains about the situation of true iranians in thier ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. A greate number of "IRANIAN"s know for sure and very intensively how bad the situation in Iran is. specially about the way the sexuality is handled. They find it unhuman and even sadistic that in the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC of IRAN it is not allowed to commercialize the sexuality openly. They have no understangs for the fact that HEJAB is a real tool to increase and to intensify the sexual pleasure in privacy. Anyhow the subjects which were sought to be most appropriate to design a effticient propaganda have been: Economics, Human rights, Women rights, right of practicing sexuality in public to which belongs going BAD HEJAB and the question of sexuality in general to which belongs Homo- and transsexuality, the right to draw senseless or offensive and insulting carttons and so onm and so on. All these subjects are now so intensly and completely elaborated and discussed. and had been all inefficient. I think without creating some new subjects for new propagandas is the only way to create efficiency against the country in ME. One could take the Space exploration? Or economical help for afghans and recently also for Irak? How about the success in NUC-Questions? all these points could lead to and result in a efficient most successfull propaganda. so that those, named by westerns and enemies as, "fanatic mullahs" would give up. I see only a negligible obstacle: Those fanatics count 7ty millions. 1978 they counted only 30. Greeting
Great Job Hoder, Bravo
by Anonymous2211 (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 12:03 PM PSTvery nice insight, you're a breath of fresh air on this stupid website.
finally a person who can see with a clear eye and is not brainwashed.
Good Job
God bless the Iranian
by nader11 (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 11:44 AM PSTGod bless the Iranian Government.
Their "henna" has lost its color
by Iva (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:08 AM PSTMr. Hoder,
Coming out and saying moslem clerics in Iran are very tolerant and if they had wings you would call them angels is not going to work .. well, perhaps it will work for those superstition folks that still live in Iran and has fallen for islamic lies and decit, however, it will not work for those of us who have lived through islamic atrocities that were and ARE COMMITTED on daily basis and/or have relatives who do live in Iran today and are constantly struggling against fascist forces of islam.
.
Bottom line is that islam is tolarent of NOTHING but itself, everything, living or non-living (i.e. arts) must conform to islamic cult teaching or they are destained to be destroyed by islam ... that is the final islamic point.
Is Hoder a pre-op Trans-sexual?
by Hassan Kachal (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 06:10 AM PSTTo answer this most serious of questions you must go back to Hoder's childhood. He was in a very sticky situation. And when "things" become "stickey", you must wither wash them or cut them off. His father sent him to be educated abroad but he decided a western education was of no use to him. Instead he decided to study journalism - which is a by-word for Onanism, which in common parlance means being a addicted tosser. It is this image that Hoder more than anything else would like to shun. So soon he will have his true image that conforms with his deeply sexuall feelings restored and I can promise you that you will see a new liberted Hod Hod. Even his idol Khatami might be tempted to offer a temp amrriage then.
b namus, so if you are more
by Soheyla P. (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 05:01 AM PSTb namus, so if you are more educated, why not discuss the substance of what this guy has written? Why do you use the same tactics and cheap personal attacks that only a jealous teenager uses to discredit his or her partner? I think all these personal attacks this guy gets here only helps him, rather than harming him. it also reveal what a bunch of unintelligent thugs his opponent are.
The thing about your comment is, that you it could have been posted (and perhaps it has) under any other post written by Derakhshan. Is this how you have learned to critically engage with a debate in your long period of higher education?
fascism and oppression
by b namus (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 01:36 AM PST"anyway the wind blows...
nothing really matters to me" is derakhshan's creed and motto and he lives by it, at least give the poor bastard credit for that. Having said that, hossein is not a very educated individual to provide commentary on any historical, legal, or sociological aspect of Iran and Iranians. However, if there was to be a symposium on parties in northern tehran or 'how i went to Israel and did nothing but sleep and mooch off other people' (i know this for a fact because he was staying with one of my friends), he would be the guest lecturer. Hossein is self-serving period exclamation mark and would never ever dare to be openly critical of the Iran of the Islamic Republic.....he does not have the faintest clue about theories of state formation, the functions of a fascist government, nor the ideological underpinnings of the so-called Islamic Republic in Iran. His job is preservation. After all, without the Islamic Republic, hossein would actually have to get a job and so might his family. When Khamenei performs your first wedding for you, you are in cahoots!
Well,he has a point. Maybe
by asghar_taraghe (not verified) on Sat Mar 01, 2008 01:06 AM PSTWell,he has a point. Maybe there should be a third front beside zionist piggies in US and israel and islamofascist in iran. The fact that some israel-loving, iranian-hating ziofucknist piggie-pieces of shits make propaganda in the name of loving iran cant be ignored. How long do u wanna have ur heads in ur ass and close ur eyes to the propaganda agains iranian people. Maybe till the iran gets bombed and 6.5m people get killed. huh? would that be long enough? u remind me of molavi story : khar berafto khar berafto khar beraft... . BTW, I think hoder is a rat ass hypocrite.