Exploring homosexual identity through anonymity
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Homosexuality is illegal in Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former President of Iran, famously said during a 2007 trip to the United States, "In Iran, we don't have homosexuals, like in your country." For a year, photographer Laurence Rasti, photographed gay and lesbian Iranian refugees in Denizli, Turkey.
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Rasti said that when she first went to Turkey, it was difficult to get people to pose. They didn't trust her motives, didn't trust strangers.
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Once people understood her sincerity, and the anonymity of the project, they agreed to be photographed, she said.
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Psychologists in Iran have reportedly pushed LGBT patients toward hormone therapy and eventually surgery.
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Some flee the country before surgery.
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Many come to Turkey, and the small town of Denizli is host to hundreds of gays and lesbians from Iran.
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It was a process to become friends. The photographer would talk to the potential subjects about their stories then discuss with them her ideas for what the photo would be like.
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The refugees are still full of hope and love despite their rough lives, Rasti said.
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A few will return to Iran, hoping to keep their homosexuality a secret.
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Rasti hopes her photos spark dialogue. "The reason I did this project is, I want use photos to talk about something that I think is important," she said. "When people are afraid of something or don't accept something, I think we should talk about it."
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