Country Overview
Iran
At a glance
Same-sex Relations for Men Legal Throughout the Country?
Same-sex Relations for Women Legal Throughout the Country?
Legal Gender Recognition Possible?
LGBTI Orgs Able to Register?
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Iran criminalizes same-sex sexual relations with a maximum punishment of death, and the law is actively enforced. Iran allows transgender people who have undergone gender affirmation surgery to change their legal gender markers, but transgender Iranians are still subject to violence, discrimination, social rejection, and harassment. Iran has strict censorship laws that are used to ban LGBTIQ-related media and communications. Hate speech against LGBTIQ people by politicians and influential religious leaders is common. Portrayal in the media is overwhelmingly derogatory and negative, presenting LGBTIQ identities as immoral. Due to these commonly held beliefs, LGBTIQ individuals are subjected to harassment, violence, discrimination, and family rejection. During protests that were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, many LGBTIQ people also rose up, demanding rights and freedoms. Although this caused a political backlash, it also strengthened the visibility of the LGBTIQ community in Iran.
Global Impact
Sub-Saharan Africa
Outright supports LGBTIQ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa and works with mainstream human rights organizations to respect human rights and influence positive changes in laws, policies, attitudes and beliefs that cause discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
United Nations
Our work at the United Nations centers around advocating for the advancement of the rights of LGBTIQ people.
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Our work in Asia promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of society.
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In the Southwest Asia and North Africa, we partner with local groups in various countries as part of our international solidarity work. We also work with our local partners on different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security.
Europe and Central Asia
Outright International partners with activists to fight for an end to human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Europe and Central Asia, where most of our work involves emergency responses to harassment, discrimination, violence, and most recently, Russia’s brutal and expanded invasion of Ukraine.
Americas
Our work in the Americas continues to build on the fundamental and positive transformation of human rights protections in recent years. We partner with groups in the Caribbean that focus on ending gender-based violence and eradicating discrimination against trans people.
Pacific
Our work in the Pacific aims to increase the visibility of activists, respond to human rights emergencies, and actively bridge local, regional, and international activism to achieve equality and justice.
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Human Rights Research
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