Couscous Global: Tell me — how is gay life in Iran?
Depends on your situation. As all the people know, it’s not easy here, but it depends on your situation, too. Which kind of family you are, what’s your religion, yes, it depends on your situation.
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CG: So, you are OK with how you live here in Iran. You don’t want to go to another country.
No, because . . . maybe, yeah, but maybe I emigrate, but it [sexuality] is not the main reason.
CG: OK
Because I have a good situation here. I don’t have any problem.
CG: So, are you yourself religious?
Yeah.
CG: Is it possible to be religious and not feel bad about yourself?
No, the two don’t concern each other. Religion is a way, life is a way. They don’t concern each other. We can mix them together.
CG: So, it’s possible to be a Muslim and gay, for you.
Yeah.
CG: That’s fantastic.
Couscous Global makes and broadcasts movies of young people in debate all over the world. The project originated in the audience’s responses to Couscous and Cola, a documentary TV series about a debate club of immigrant youth in Holland, broadcast by Al Jazeera. The text above is a partial edited transcript of “Being Gay in Iran.”