Economic crises, especially in recent years and with the spread of the coronavirus virus, have greatly affected all aspects of human life and have also caused serious problems in meeting basic needs. In the midst of this, vulnerable and marginalized groups have faced even more pressure and serious damages, including sexual minorities. Sexual minorities, due to reasons such as wrong and unscientific attitudes dominant in culture and society, unequal laws and job opportunities, struggle with numerous challenges and are among the groups that, despite the chaotic conditions in the country, have a harder time compared to the majority.

In this issue, a peace line has been drawn with one of the members of the LGBTQ+ family regarding their problems as a transgender person in renting a house and the obstacles they face in obtaining housing rights. Ailar, who was born in 1981 and lives in Tehran, told the peace line that the lack of recognition of their gender and the refusal to change their identification documents to match their gender is the most important problem that not

Have you ever faced any restrictions or difficulties when renting a housing due to your sexual identity? Or do you hide this issue when renting a housing?

The biggest problem is this: if we go to a business with women’s attire, we also need a women’s identification card. The Islamic Republic does not issue women’s identification cards for us. When we go with women’s attire but have a male identification card, the business owner is surprised when they see the identification card and then there are heavy looks and a tense atmosphere. In fact, as long as they only see your appearance, there is no problem, but as soon as it comes to signing a contract and providing documents, they back out.

If we go with a masculine appearance, as soon as they see our face, without any reason, they say no, there is no house and the landlord or business owner will not rent us a house.

The biggest problem is that because we don’t have a women’s identification card, it is very difficult for me and people like me to rent a house. I myself take my sister with me to rent a house.

You said that you

Yes, I will take my sister with me, but if tomorrow she says the contract is in my name, then the upfront money belongs to me. I have been alone, without anyone, scared and away from my family for over ten years. I didn’t see anyone and I didn’t talk to anyone. My family didn’t understand and couldn’t accept it. It’s been two or three years since they accepted it, but what have they really accepted?! I can say that it was better for them not to accept it. Their looks and actions are heavy. They have bad attitudes. In fact, the respect, dignity, and view they had towards me before they found out about my being trans is gone. Everything has changed. Everything has become lifeless. They are with you on the surface, but this togetherness is like a hair tie. The slightest tug can break it apart.

What did you do in the years before reconnecting with your family and without your sister’s company to rent a house?

I have been living alone for twenty years. Out of these twenty years, I only saw my family for one or two years in the beginning. After that, I was alone for about twelve or thirteen years and didn’t see anyone. When I went to rent a house, I would go with a masculine appearance and wear glasses and a mask. Many times, I had to wear a fake beard and pretend to be a boy to rent a house. I would rent a place where the landlord was far away and didn’t live in the same building. It was a bit easier this way. But I couldn’t pretend to be a girl. I had to go out with a masculine appearance and it was very, very difficult for me. I don’t know what to say, I can only say that I wish and pray to God that no one else becomes like us. It’s really hard.

Have you ever experienced that after signing a contract and settling in a rented house, the landlord or neighbors become aware of your sexual identity and put pressure on you to vacate the house?

This has not happened to me, but I know people who have experienced it. They were pressured to vacate their homes and even after months, their deposit was returned with harassment and abuse. I know someone who went to rent a house with a masculine appearance, but after the landlord found out about their gender identity, they were allowed to stay until the end of the lease, but three months after vacating the house, their deposit was returned with harassment and abuse. However, many landlords only give a short time for vacating the house once they find out someone like me is living there. Of course, we don’t cause any problems or harm, but unfortunately, people’s attitudes change when they hear the word “trans”. We are human beings just like you, not animals.

During economic crises and the spread of the coronavirus, considering the risks of your job, what changes have occurred in your income and the increase in rent prices have posed what threats to your ability to obtain suitable housing rights?

Wherever I go for work, they accept me at first, but when it comes to documents, everything changes. So I have to explain my situation to the employer; both because of my ID and for insurance, as something might happen in the workplace. Before giving explanations, they think we are women (cisgender) and agree to hire us and say bring your documents tomorrow and start working. But after I explain my situation, everything changes and they say “for now, go and we’ll let you know. God willing, everything will work out!” I can’t just wait around. I have to go to other places for employment. Some places have different conditions. They want to take advantage and treat you differently. They look at you differently. They think they can and should sexually abuse you. Everyone wants something from us. If you don’t want to give in to these things, you have to stay at home. But staying at home is also very bad. I didn’t do any

What is your outlook on life and your future, considering the circumstances and experiences you have had in these years?

I don’t know what to say. I don’t see a bright future for myself and people like me. Because life here is such that there is no sign of hope, no happiness, and no joy. I don’t know what I should do when I get older. How can I live? I’ve been stuck for two days, who will support me and help me? No one! I have to die!

I am ashamed of the work I do because it is not my job. I used to work as a blacksmith for my livelihood when I was a boy. I am a skilled welder; I know TIG, CO2, submerged arc, regular welding, CNC cutting, and automatic cutting. I am really good at blacksmithing. I am a master craftsman, but unfortunately, they don’t hire women as blacksmiths here. If I get accepted somewhere to work as a blacksmith, I will definitely do it. I don’t like selling my body

If there is any point at the end, please mention it.

It is a permit that is valid for two years and allows you to go to the hospital and undergo gender reassignment surgery. Another use for it is as an identification card. I don’t want to undergo the surgery and I prefer to stay as I am. Because those who have undergone the surgery, including my friends, have become depressed. They have always told me not to undergo the surgery because it brings many problems and pains. I got this permit two years ago but it has recently expired.

When I went to the court, prosecutor’s office, forensic medicine, and welfare office to get this permit, they all made excuses. They have created these legal procedures for us to go through in order to get the permit, but they charge us around twelve million tomans. One day, when I went to the prosecutor’s office with a feminine appearance, I went to the relevant judge. They told me that I am still a boy and haven’t undergone the surgery yet. I have to come back

Thank you for the opportunity you have given us to use the peace line.