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.
Once people understood her sincerity, and the anonymity of the project, they agreed to be photographed, she said.
Psychologists in Iran have reportedly pushed LGBT patients toward hormone therapy and eventually surgery.
Some flee the country before surgery.
Many come to Turkey, and the small town of Denizli is host to hundreds of gays and lesbians from Iran.
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.
The refugees are still full of hope and love despite their rough lives, Rasti said.
A few will return to Iran, hoping to keep their homosexuality a secret.
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."
