TEHRAN, IRAN: Amir and his classmates hang out on the street side in between two critique sessions on the last day of school. Amir, the only boy in his class, studies fashion design at the Tehran Institute of Technology. In the coming months, just before finishing his fashion design degree, Amir will be fleeing Iran to seek asylum in Turkey as he identifies himself as a homosexual.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-16 | With pictures of Iran supreme leaders, Ayatollah Khomeini and Khamenei, hanging on the wall, Amir tries on his design from his thesis project with the theme of BDSM. Amir is a 19-year-old Iranian who identified himself, at the time, as gay.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-19 : Amir, with his best friend Sasan, tries on a coat that goes with his new boots in front of the mirror. Amir and Sasan, both, identify themselves as gays and both have been accepted by their families.
TEHRAN, IRAN - (Right to Left) Amir, Shahin and Sasan hang out in the kitchen as they wait for pizzas to be delivered to them. Sasan comes from a very religious family, but has been accepted and receives support from his family. Sasan's parents are away on vacation and they all have come together at his place to hang out and smoke freely.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-20 | Amir smokes a roll of joint on the couch at his friend's place.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-16 | Amir tries on his design from his thesis project with the theme of BDSM. Amir is a 19-year-old Iranian who identified himself, at the time, as gay.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-19 | Amir's finger nails painted in black, as he reaches out to put down the window's blinds.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-09 | Shahin, Pouyan and Sasan, Amir's closest friends, get ready to go to the airport with him, to say goodbye, as he leaves Iran to seek asylum in Turkey.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-20 | With a photo of Imam Ali, first Shi'a imam hung in the background, Sasan and Pouyan, his partner, hold hand and caress on the couch. Sasan comes from a very religious family who have been very open, accepting him as he is. Homosexuality in Islam is considered to be sin and must be penalized by capital punishment.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-31 | Shahin and Amir share a cab home with another friend. The guys can't commute within the city freely, as they often get stopped, harassed or stared at because of their look and how they dress.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-31 | Shahin and Amir share a cab home with another friend. The guys can't commute within the city freely, as they often get stopped, harassed or stared at because of their look and how they dress.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-31 | Shahin and Sasan chill out at a private boutique in Northern Tehran waiting for Amir to finish his tanning session. As they live an unusual and out of norm life style, most of their activities happen after hours and underground.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-08 | Amir, high and exhausted, lays on the floor of her sister's apartment on the night of his going away party.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-08 | Sasan and his partner, Pouyan, shop for munchies for Amir's going away party.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-06 | Amir, bored as he waits for his laptop to be fixed at the apple store, puts on pink nail polish to keep himself busy. With all the existing taboos and bans on homosexuality, Amir and his close circle of friends have no shame in expressing their choice of sexuality.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-01 | Sasan and Amir, walking to Eram Park playground, receives dirty looks and gazes. They are no stranger with the gazes and humiliation in public on a daily basis.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-01 | Sasan, Amir and his family celebrate the national holiday of "13 be dar" by picnicking in Eram Park. Amir's family have been very supportive of who he is. They are no stranger with the gazes and humiliation the face in public on a daily basis.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-16 | Amir scratches his black nail polish as he waits on the street side in between two critique sessions on the last day of school. In the coming months, just before finishing his fashion design degree, Amir will be fleeing Iran to seek asylum in Turkey as he identifies himself as a homosexual.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-06 | Amir get into his sister's car.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-31 | Shahin and Amir playfully dance to the music while Sasan (on the far right) undresses at the tanning room in a private boutique in Northern Tehran.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2014-07-12 | Sasan and Ali, both homosexuals, laugh at a joke while hanging out at a friend's house.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-03-31 | Only a few nights prior to his departure, Amir hangs out with his friend in a park late at night, smoking a roll of joint to relax.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-09 | On his last night in Tehran few hours before heading to the airport, Amir packs his last bag in middle of their living room. His mom, laying on the couch, has always supported him and encouraged him to leave Iran.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-09 | Amir's mom and sister help him carry his luggages, checking out the departing flights information board.
TEHRAN, IRAN | 2013-04-09 | Amir surrounded by his mom and brother, says goodbye to his close friend, Shahin. Shahin and Amir have known each other from grade 6 and both discovered that they are gay around the same time. Shahin will be following Amir, joining him in Turkey to seek asylum in the coming months.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-11 | Amir, on his very first morning in Turkey, feeling down and homesick as he wakes up in his new bedroom in Denizli. Amir moved to Turkey to seek asylum and reunite with his ex-partner. Denizli has opened up to refugees for nearly two years and at the time of story was hosting more than 100 Iranian LGBT refugees.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Amir's refugee ID card lays on the couch. As a refugee, he has to go to the local police station once a week to sign his attendance sheet.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-11 | On his first day in Denizli, Amir dazes out in the balcony of the apartment that he temporarily has moved to, sharing the apartment with several other Iranian LGBT refugees.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-13 | First weekend in his new town, Amir heads back to his apartment with his roommates, all member of Iranian LGBT community in Denizli, after a long day out picnicking.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-14 | Amir and his partner of the time chill on their new bed in one of the small rooms. Since Amir moved to Denizli, the other roommates evacuated one of the two bedrooms so the couple can have some privacy.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-11 | Amir plays music on his laptop in the living room of his apartment.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-13 | Amir's roommates, all members of Iranian LGBT community and refugees seeking asylum in Turkey, sunbathe and picnic in a park on a Sunday afternoon.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Amir and Shahin along with their new roommate, also an Iranian gay refugee, hang out on a summery afternoon.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-12 | Amir on his first visit at the local disco club in Denizli, dances in front of a mirror. Although homosexuality is accepted throughout Turkey, but the bars and clubs of Denizli is still not gay-friendly and have had a violent history towards homosexual refugees. Denizli has opened up to refugees for nearly two years and at the time of story was hosting more than 100 Iranian LGBT refugees.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-11 | Amir and his partner of the time, make out on the first night reunited in Denizli. His ex-partner (asked not to be named anywhere) moved to Turkey as a refugee and Amir joined him 7 months later. The couple moved in together, sharing a two bedroom apartment with 4 other Iranian gays, a lesbian and her 4-year-old son.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2013-04-12 | After a night out, Amir and his roommates, all from the LGBT community, wait for a cab outside of a disco club. Denizli being a small town, these guys usually stand out of the crowd and attract a lot of negative attention to themselves.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Amir and Shahin visit a beauty centre to consult for laser hair removal.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-15 |Â Lola (Amir) fan herself to escape the heat at her friend's apartment in Izmir. Stranded by closed culture and unfriendly attitude of Turkish locals in small town of Denizli, Amir started to dress up as a woman, enjoying a bit of more freedom while exploring his sexuality in ways that he had not explored before. He adopted the name Lola and dresses like a woman for most parts.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-15 | Lola's painted finger nails rest on her lap. Stranded by closed culture and unfriendly attitude of Turkish locals in small town of Denizli, Amir started to dress up as a woman, enjoying a bit of more freedom while exploring his sexuality in ways that he had not explored before. He adopted the name Lola and dresses like a woman for most parts.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-17 | En route from Izmir back to her apartment in Denizli, Lola smoke a cigarette in the bus terminal. Stranded by closed culture and unfriendly attitude of Turkish locals in small town of Denizli, Amir started to dress up as a woman, enjoying a bit of more freedom while exploring his sexuality in ways that he had not explored before. He adopted the name Lola and dresses like a woman for most parts.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-18 | Lola shows a dance move to her roommates in the bedroom that she shares with Shahin and another roommate. Stranded by closed culture and unfriendly attitude of Turkish locals in small town of Denizli, Amir started to dress up as a woman, enjoying a bit of more freedom while exploring his sexuality in ways that he had not explored before. He adopted the name Lola and dresses like a woman for most parts.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-14 | Lola (Amir) and Tara (Shahin) shop for some grocery at a local shop in their neighbourhood. Stranded by closed culture and unfriendly attitude of Turkish locals in small town of Denizli, Amir and Shahin started to dress up as women, enjoying a bit of more freedom while exploring their sexualities in ways that they had not explored before. Both adopted female name and dress up as women, while they work in bars and night clubs.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-17 | Lola smoke a roll of joint with her friends in Izmir. Despite Lola's physical state and still being a man, Yusuf in yellow shirt on bed, has deep affection for her. Often Lola receives solicitation in exchange of sexual favours for men.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-16 | Frustrated with the summer heat, Lola works on her laptop in front of a fan in her friend's apartment. Often Lola receives solicitation in exchange of sexual favours for men.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-16 | Enjoying the cool breeze Lola hangs out with her new friends in a park, smoking a roll of joint in Izmir.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Lola (Amir) and Tara (Shahin) started working as dancer/performer in bars and night clubs of Istanbul for very little cash they receive. Meanwhile Lola receives solicitation in exchange of sexual favours for men she meets there.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-15 | Lola and Tara wait for a friend on Istiqlal street, before they go to a night club where they dance and perform on weekends.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-17 | Lola and a friend, passed out after a night out, share the bed. Ashamed from her visible beard and rough skin, Lola covers her face in the morning. Lola sometimes receives solicitation in exchange of sexual favours for men.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-15 | In her new apartment in Istanbul, where she works and performs in nightclubs and bars, Lola smoke a roll of joint.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-16 | Lola is taken out for lunch by a turkish friend, sitting next to her. Lola receives favours in from men who show deep affection despite her sexuality.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-15 | In her new apartment in Istanbul, where she works and performs in nightclubs and bars, Lola hangs out and socializes with her roommates.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Lola takes a selfie photo, trying out her new outfit for work. Having graduated from fashion design program, Lola designs her own costumes to perform and dance in bars and nightclubs.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-01 | Lola put on make up on Tara's face, as they prepare for their performance in a nightclub on the night of halloween.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-01 | Tara, all prepared and ready to leave for work, on the night of halloween. Lola (Amir) and Tara (Shahin) started working as dancer/performer in bars and night clubs of Istanbul for very little cash they receive.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-16 | Bored and frustrated by the heat of coastal town, Lola chill on a hammock with a new friend.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-17 | Lola exchange phone number and her Facebook ID with a stranger on the bus in Denizli. She often receives solicitation in exchange of sexual favours for men.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Lola puts on make up in her bathroom as she gets ready for work. She started working as dancer/performer in bars and night clubs of Istanbul for very little cash they receive.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Lola speaks on her phone inside a night club where she often dance and perform on the weekends.
IZMIR, TURKEY | 2014-08-16 | Lola hangs out in a park very very late at night with new friends she has made in Izmir.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Lola and Tara take a break to have a drink, at a night club they perform at in Istanbul. The two friends started working as dancer/performer in bars and night clubs of Istanbul for very little cash they receive.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Lola checks something on her laptop, trying out her new outfit for work. Having graduated from fashion design program, Lola designs her own costumes to perform and dance in bars and nightclubs.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Lola and Tara dance on the bar counter in a nightclub. The two friends started working as dancer/performer in bars and night clubs of Istanbul for very little cash they receive.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY | 2014-11-16 | Tara gets friendly and intimate with an older man that she met at the bar the two friend perform at. Some men are aware of their sexualities and others get surprised by the fact that physically they are still men.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-19 | Lola dances playfully in the sole bedroom of her apartment while she's wearing a new mask she has made for work.
DENIZLI, TURKEY | 2014-08-18 | Lola skypes with her older sister in Tehran from her bedroom at the end of the night.
