Gay and transsexual people in Iran are being forced to carry “gay” ID cards as the price of avoiding conscription and years of abuse and harassment in the armed forces.
Military service is compulsory for men once they reach 18, but the state offers a get-out clause to those who are gay and those who have undergone sex-change operations — most of which are carried out under duress from the government in an attempt to “cure” them.
To obtain an exemption, applicants must endure questioning from doctors on everything from why they show no interest in women to whether they are active or passive during sex, before sitting a 567-question “personality test”.
They are then issued with their card, which is printed with a code: