Jahanshah Javid

Now top that!

Politically, you establish the individual rights to do whatever they want to do with it. You don't need to elaborate on the details of this rights and you can -you should- leave it to the maturity of the society to deal with it within its capacity. This is true for any society.

So if you suggest to me that the rights of homosexuals should be clarified in a constitution, I would say better not. But if I reply 'why? are you homosexual?', then you should seriously doubt my integrity.

At a personal level, I know few homosexuals in my past and present friends and in my extended family. But I guess what I'm about to talk about is somewhat more original!

When I was around 19, full of curiosity about everything, I encountered a homosexual who for some reason was giving me a sign. I was very curious to know what he saw in me that made he think I was interested in homosexual relation. Then I asked myself, am I fully heterosexual or do I have a homosexual side suppressed in my unconscious and my cultural heritage?... the only way I could find it out was to go along with him!

Long story short, I slept with him. I discovered I didn't have any kind of suppressed homosexual penchant in me, and it was a very sad discovery, specially for him, who was sobbing when he saw me going to the toilet to throw up.

JJ, I got lots to say about this topic

At age 10 I had a serious crush on my cousin Farhad, who was not only very gorgeous, cool and smart but also gay.  I found out the latter piece when he killed himself when I was 15 and he was 23.  Unlike you, only on my dad's side I had many gay relatives whose identities were closeted or not so, during the Shah. Some had come out of the closet by introducing themselves as Bisexual.  To my dad who was my role model as far as civility and acceptance of "the different" went, those guys were all educated and respectable members of our family. After Farhad's suicide, there was severe concerns about other young male gay or bi  and friends among us.  I was not only in shock and quietly mourning the loss of my childhood Love but for the first time I had a grown-up conversation with my dad about sexuality.  He said, "you loved Farhad for what he was in totality... I congratulate you on that, but also know that aside from your age difference, he could not have changed himself for You or for any woman, he was gay but he loved you as his young cousin.. he could never hurt you or anyone by being gay.. and he died for many reasons related to his adjustment to that fact.  Too bad Farhad thought his options were a short list ". I was so relieved by our short talk.  Then I met Dr. Ebrahim Khajehnouri, a prominent psychiatrist of my teenage years in Iran, who educated me to the genetic pointers of being gay, the accomplishments of many Gay artists, political figures, or average Joe's among us - I was absolutely fascinated. 

JJ, I too have recently heard many comments about my excitement about the Comedy Show for iranian.com. Many will-wishers among my mom's side suspected my divorce was due to my coming out of closet... "It's Ok to be a lesbian, (but stay away from our kids, they implied), until you're clear on your decision".  I did not bother to share further than saying, "my divorce had nothing to do with my sexuality nor anyother man (than my ex), or woman.. I had decided on my hopeless marriage many many years ago and I proceeded with my decision when it was the Right time for the kids".  I still get their tones of disbelief especially when I send them "There Are No Gays in Iranian" ads (weekly) urging them to but their tickets, better yet plan their trips to SF for the show. :o)

I have had many gay, lesbian or bi friends, colleagues, professors and directors.  Working in SF's Hayes Valley for many years, how could one not?  Or attending the most liberal graduate school and working in the field, how could I not?  I love them all, for different reasons but not their sexuality.  My friends and colleagues, all know that where I come from, as a woman I feel like a minotrity too - that if I ever decide to go back to Iran of the IRI in fact I'd be stoned-to-death more than twice for marrying and zenaa with non-muslim men who were nowhere close to any formal religion.

JJ jan, I'm in the middle of big moves (home and office) but I will come back to your great blog.  Thank you for writing this and sharing your experiences, I love your openness about your affairs, sexuality what not :o)  btw  any woman is uber-lucky to feel attracted to you.. az khoda bekhaan :o)

(sorry for my roodeh-draazi folks, but the topic is very close to my heart many levels, I'll share more later or write my own blogs about them)

Well done jahanshah

Freedom means the right to be who you are and want to be, right or wrong.  If we recognize that in the future of iran, then we have trul arrived at democracy.

That "community leader" is probably gay like Sen Larry Craig!

Senator Larry Craig was the leading Republican leader in legislating anti gay legislations or opposing more gay rights legislations.  Only to end up sharing a paper under a men's room stall and playing footsie with an undercover police officer.

So I'd say this Iranian community leader is probably the same character as Larry Craig.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ci5tN7h8E8

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajJoYM60T3E 

Everything is sacred.

Homosexuality

Is a part of human nature present in all places. Iran is no exception. We have had plenty of prominent and patriotic gay people in Iran. AN is a babbling idiot with a small mind. Going along with his small mind is a big mouth.

Pedophilia is not homosexuality. It is however present in Iran like anywhere else. Because of social taboos it is intermingled with regular homosexuality. The right thing is to accept regular homosexuality while condemning pedophilia.

There is also a power play. It is like in American jails. Some people use homosexual acts to express power over other people. That is a separate issue. Basically homosexuality between consenting adults is fine. Pedophilia or rape not.

Iranian & homosexuality

In a bussines I had I used to have a few lesbians working for me who later became social friends for a while. These girls introduced me to lesbo social scenes such as billiard halls & bars which for my one item mind  was a chance to convert one & beginners luck, I did to one who probably was a bi in denial. Overall I find queers to be chatty, decent, fun buncha guys/gals but extremely shallow & one dimesional who bore one to death past the first hour of conversation which hovers around 2 or 3 topics :).

As for Iranian style of homosexuality, I believe its more of a pedophile nature & abuse of the underage than willing & voluntary relationship between adults. To prove, I ask how many of you had a bacheh baaz in your neigborhood?. Homo is a life style, pedophility is a sick crime that is mainly practiced in Iran which has its roots in shaikhak culture. Even some famous kharabati & sufiis were bacheh baaz & had young morid toys.

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia

What does enlighment means

There are a some issues that are hard to accept in the society but if we claim to be enlightened and progressive people then we have to reach deep inside of us and remove all the prejudices within us. We need to think deeply about other peoples rights and desires and see life from their view point.

You have your head and your

You have your head and your heart in the right place (and the rest too, I'm guessing, wherever the right place may be).

The most prominent

gay member of the Islamic Republic.
His gay life style and experiences in his own words....
Please listen and enjoy:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0YpU8im6g

Right Said Fred

You are completely right and it was indeed bisexuality and to some extent paedophilia. I was just trying to highlight the normality of men having sex with men in older days.

I may also have to add that men having sex with men is forbidden in Zoroastrian religion and if I am right in the Zoroastrian Iran was punishable by death.

Divaneh

I believe what you are referring to has to do more with bisexuality than with homosexuality. Siroos Shamisa’s groundbreaking book on the subject is banned in the Islamist heaven on earth but is available on line.

Professor Yarshatar has also penned a very informative paper on the subject.

 //www.scribd.com/doc/2567346/-

Homosexuality was normal in Iran

AN knows nothing about our culture and history and shows it in his comments. Homosexuality was normal in old Iran where one of the bounties of the battles were beautiful men (Gholam Khoubro), most probably under aged boys. Despite the inhumanity of the act or rape, we see the allocation of the beautiful men to the triumphant generals is remembered with the same normality as their share of women. Shahnameh is one such record.

Some of the most beautiful Persian poems are inspired by beautiful gays. Saadi's famous Tarji Band (Ey Sarve boland ghamate doost ...) and Vahshi Bafghi well loved Tarkib Band (Doostan sharhe parishani man goush konid) are two shining examples, and you only realise it was penned for a boy after you have reached the end of the poet having imagined all the way the beauties of the woman who inspired this. You will find many references to gay people and the normality of falling in love with men in the works of other poets. No reference to Lesbians though.

This norm was not limited to Iran and in some other neighbouring countries still exists. In Pakistan you will see transvestites who openly dress as women and make up their faces. It was such a surprise for me to see how normal they were viewed by the accepting society. 

Some years ago I visited Oman and upon viewing the gardens of the palace of the Sultan, I was curious about a number of men in colourful costumes. Orange, red, pink, purple and other bright colours are frowned upon by the Omani men some of whom still carry daggers. I was informed that the playful men dressed in bright colours were Sultan's beautiful men. Malijak and Ayaz are the examples of such gays and the normality of the act in Iran.

Sorry for the long post.

Ok, Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar

He ought to be considered Iran's most famous gay person, no?

Stick to the topic

I would appreciate it if you would please focus your comments on the issue of Iranians and homosexuality rather than going off to Hollywood.

Yes with the Boney M Music Score ;0)

Here it is:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEaaqFBGCA8

Darius. Italia, Italia!

I was a kid at the time, but I distinctly remember a sitcom airing on pre-revolutionary Iranian TV known as Italia, Italia. Do you remember this show? Anyway, didn't this sitcom have an explictly gay character?

James Dean

Don't forget that there are persistent rumors that James Dean was gay and that he and Rock Hudson were an item.

Rock Hudson was a great actor and I was a fan of McMillan & Wife

Dear Darius, I was also a fan of McMillan & Wife growing up in Iran pre IRI.  It is late and I am too tired but I think there was another Rock Hudson series that I watched also. 

Rock Hudson's Homosexuality was a Shock to my Puberty years ...

Up to Rock Hudson's Coming Out, I always associated Gay's with Effeminate People. But Rock Hudson's tragic death from AIDS was a Real Shock to me and my parents who loved watching the McMillan and Wife TV series in Shiraz. It took place in San Franscisco too:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzaviQ6IG5c

Dancing with Gina Lollobrigida in move "Come September":

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3EV2yp9CWQ

I still don't see how such a handsome, smart and leading man who had so many opportunities to have the most beautiful women in his bed could have such been Gay ? It must have been frustrating for the women !

But I found that he was Very Brave to admit to it publically when he learned he had AIDS and certainly changed many people's views on his community including amongst conservative republicans like Ronald Reagan who paid tribute to the man when he died.

Today I cannot watch a Rock Hudson film without looking for signs of his would be effeminity and I can't find ANYTHING hinting to it.

He was Great Actor who is truly missed !

Well ...There is no law against Knighting them in my kingdom ;0)

By Royal or Republican Decree ...

"GAY" KNIGHTS OF THE REPUBLIC:Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor Get French Honor ;0)

Dear JJ,many gays had to be in closet otherwise I had more ...

Dear JJ,many gays had to be in closet otherwise I had more stories to tell you about all the gay coworkers I have had working in United States.  Truth is that many people still hide the fact that they are gay.  Then they are those who are not gay but people label gay because they may act a bit different than average man, a bit more feminine or because they seem not to overly flirt with any female or for other reasons. 

JJ, if you just came out of the closet

You would give an enormous lease on life to the Iranian gay community and accomplish what figures like Farrokhzad could never dream of. Don't delete my comment. This is serious. You are, and we know, so why don't you just come out and use the occasion as a milestone and rallying cry for many Iranians of this orientation who can use a public face like you. Besides the Iranian gay cause is a far more worthier one than the Bahai one.

Yes, I have a gay cousin. I've had many gay friends. The best tenants I ever had were gay. I even have two gay murids (spiritual disciples). I am however straight as a brand new door nail and like women very much, God(ess) love 'em! I disagree with the orientation on metaphysical grounds, and think the militancy of the gay community in North America and Europe is irritating, but this is a fact needing to be dealt with -- and in Iran's case most urgently!

JJ, be the face of Gay Iran!  ;0)

Thank you for discussing this subject.

First time I encountered a gay person was in middle school. I was in 9th grade and a few weeks before the end of the year, a classmate of mine decided to come out. She was 15 and wanted to come to the end of the year party with her girl-friend. Looking back, I am amazed at how well we all took it. The teachers were extremely supporting, as if she had announced she was going to bring a home baked cake to the party. She was not harassed by any of the classmates. She and her partner danced together arm in arm all night. I had never seen her so happy and relaxed.

I don't have any gay relatives or family members - at least not that I know of - but having studied art and architecture, I have had many, and I mean many, classmates and professors who were gay. I have shared flats with a gay friend, and have never ever felt they are anything unusual. Some of the most intelligent, sensitive and most tolerant people I know are gay. I wish people would stop treating them like they are some sort of freaks.

They are Alright in my book

Some of the nicest people I have worked with have been gay. All gay men though for some reason! My 'Gadar' went from dead to super charged since my first encounter. In college I had a friend who was GQ cover gorgeous. He loved everything Iranian and would eat Torshi out of the jar with a spoon!

All my male Iranian friends kept asking me if he was gay and I couldn't understand why! He didn't 'act' gay in any way and he had told me stories of an ex girlfriend who was stalking him. So I figured they were just jealous because Bill was so handsome and girls never stopped talking about him. A week before we graduated he asked if we could go to dinner the night after graduation to celebrate. That's when he 'came out'! Yes, he picked ME to come out to first. I mean we were close friends but nonetheless that was a huge secret to share.

Interestingly enough, and may be because everyone else had suspected and talked about it, it wasn't difficult for me to accept. We remained very good friends and nothing changed between us. Too bad we lost touch over the years. Thanks for reminding me JJ. I'm going to google him :)

p.s. Now u have me wondering if I have any gay cousins... hmmm