Lecture Description
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be transgender in post-Islamic Revolution Iran? The lecture on the status of the transgender community in Iran will provide a rare glimpse into their lives in the period after the Islamic Revolution. The lecture will address the status of the community, its integration into society, and the challenges it faces both socially and legally-halakhically. The lecture is accompanied by fascinating and authentic video clips that were produced and filmed by Iranian directors within the country.
The text on this page is in the masculine gender but is intended for all genders.
Lecture Content
In 1964, before the Islamic Revolution, a religious ruling was issued in Iran allowing sex reassignment surgery. This ruling was issued by Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. Immediately after the Islamic Revolution, Khomeini came to power. Did he keep his promise to allow sex reassignment surgery in Iran?
Iranian law is very clear about the separation of the sexes. The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes two sexes, male and female, and all other laws are based on these two sexes. A citizen’s sex determines the family laws that apply to them, their clothing, and their lifestyle in general. How, then, should a transgender person conduct their lifestyle? How should they conduct themselves under Iran’s gender laws?
The lecture will provide answers to questions such as:
– Is he allowed to choose his clothes according to the sexual identity with which he chose to live? Or is he obligated to dress in accordance with the sexual identity with which he was born? This question arises given the legislation in Iran according to which it is forbidden for the sexes to socialize in the clothing of the opposite sex.
– Is he allowed to sit in the departments according to the sexual identity with which he was born or is he allowed to sit in the department according to the sexual identity in which he lives his life?
– Does the government recognize the rights of this community?
– Is there governmental recognition of the lifestyle of the members of this community?
– Is there new legislation that allows for sex change surgeries in Iran?
– Is a transgender person allowed to change his sexual definition on an identity card?
– What difficulties does this community face? And how does society treat it?