- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Other punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Illegal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
An analysis of recent data in Iran indicates a widespread and severe resistance to LGBTQ+ rights, a situation that is deeply troubling to human rights advocates.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 7 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Iran.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Iran is illegal (death penalty as punishment).
Current status
Since Feb 11, 1979
Illegal (death penalty as punishment)
The punishment for homosexuality is currently death for men. (Unless if there is sex between a mature person and a minor; in which can the mature person will be killed while minor will receive up to 74 lashes. Same case applies for 2 minors.) For women, the punishment is up to 100 lashes. Women with a certain number of repeat offenses can become subject to the death penalty as well.
Same-sex marriage in Iran is banned.
Current status
Since Feb 11, 1979
Banned
Definition of marriage used follows from the Islamic definition of a union between a man and women. The marriage is prohibited and same-sex sexual activity is punished as stated in the Penal code.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Iran is other punishment.
Current status
Since 2013
Other punishment
Penal Code 2013, Art. 237 Other Homosexual Acts:
Article 237 provides that same-sex affection between men or between women other than ‘liwat’ or ‘tafkhiz’ (Anal Sex between men and frotting) , such as “kissing or touching as a result of lust”, is punishable with 31-74 lashes.
In Iran, there are no laws restricting to discussing LGBT topics in the Internet. However those who are accused of Political dissidence or plotting to " overthrow the Islamic Republic " could be subjected to the death penalty as well, of which charges are also included with Homosexuality . An estimated number from the Amnesty International reports is that more than 5,000 Gay men and Lesbians have been executed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Article 237 provides that same-sex affection between men or between women other than ‘liwat’ or ‘tafkhiz’ (Anal Sex between men and frotting) , such as “kissing or touching as a result of lust”, is punishable with 31-74 lashes.
In Iran, there are no laws restricting to discussing LGBT topics in the Internet. However those who are accused of Political dissidence or plotting to " overthrow the Islamic Republic " could be subjected to the death penalty as well, of which charges are also included with Homosexuality . An estimated number from the Amnesty International reports is that more than 5,000 Gay men and Lesbians have been executed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Gender-affirming care in Iran is restricted.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1987
Restricted
The process of undergoing sex reassignment surgery is extensive and arduous, and is restricted to those over the age of 18. There further exists a requirement for adult trans individuals to provide formal certification of parental approval to be issued a permit for surgery.
Access to HRT likely requires similar steps.
Access to HRT likely requires similar steps.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Iran is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Third gender here is not allowed.
LGBT discrimination in Iran is no protections.
Current status
Since Oct 24, 1979
No protections
Formally, Iranian government believes every citizen to be heterosexual, stripping protection for LGBTQ+ community.
LGBT employment discrimination in Iran is no protections.
Current status
Since Oct 24, 1979
No protections
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, so no protections for Employment exist if you are an LGBT person.
LGBT housing discrimination in Iran is no protections.
Current status
Since Oct 24, 1979
No protections
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran.
No protections exist.
No protections exist.
Same-sex adoption in Iran is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
No laws in place for same sex couples.
Intersex infant surgery in Iran is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Iran.
Serving openly in military in Iran is illegal.
Current status
Illegal
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, therefore homosexuals serving openly would also be illegal.
Blood donations by MSMs in Iran is banned (indefinite deferral).
Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Homosexuality is illegal in Iran.
Conversion therapy in Iran is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Widely preformed.
Equal age of consent in Iran is n/a.
Current status
Since 1979
N/A
Homosexual sex is illegal. Also, sexual activity outside of marriage is illegal.
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Iran.
- Ardabil
- Az¯arbayjan-e Gharbi
- Az¯arbayjan-e Sharqi
- Bushehr
- Chahar Mah¸all va Bakhtiari
- Esfahan
- Fars
- Gilan
- Golestan
- Hamadan
- Hormozgan
- Ilam
- Kerman
- Kermanshah
- Khorasan-e Janubi
- Khorasan-e Razavi
- Khorasan-e Shemali
- Khuzestan
- Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad
- Kordestan
- Lorestan
- Markazi
Equality Rank
#19
Interest Rank based on Equaldex traffic ?
Top Contributors
- Muhammadaji2022 11 contributions
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- danlev 4 contributions
- TommmyThorpe 3 contributions
- vviet93 2 contributions
- Ro_Guy 2 contributions
- fem_enby_queen_07769 2 contributions
- imullin01 1 contribution
- priyanshtiwari1256 1 contribution
- beeurd 1 contribution
1 User Live in Iran
Iran LGBT Organizations
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