The Untellable Persian Bisexual Stories

A diverse range of resources has been published about Iranian gay, lesbian and trans individuals both in Persian and English, in academic books and articles, human rights reports, mainstream Western media reports and documentaries to Iranian activist lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) media contents. These resources, which claim to be about Iranian LGBT individuals in general, focus mostly on lesbian, gay, and trans issues; bisexuals are almost invisible in these discussions. These dominant mono-normative narratives of sexual orientation reduce the diverse spectrum of sexual orientations to the dichotomy of heterosexuality versus homosexuality. Even if they are mentioned in these studies and reports, bisexuals are frequently portrayed based on biophobic stereotypes, from the perspectives of the gay and/or lesbian informants. Conversely, various studies in different countries show that bisexual asylum seekers’ claims may be rejected more than lesbian, gay, and trans asylum seekers, which results from the dominance of mono-normative narratives of sexual orientation in the different stages of asylum processes. As a result, other asylum seekers as well as activists and lawyers encourage bisexual asylum seekers to perform “gayness” in the asylum process to increase their chance of being recognised as a “refugee.” Since asylum processes have played a central role in shaping the Persian speaking LGBT communities in post-revolutionary Iran, these dominant mono-normative narratives can shape not only the way that Iranian bisexual asylum seekers but also other Persian speakers tell their sexual stories. Based on interviews with asylum seekers, activists and lawyers and analysis of public social media contents, I will explain how meanings and possibilities related to sexual orientation are produced, refined and legitimized through asylum procedures and how they are negotiated within and between Iranian sexual orientation based asylum seekers, LGBT community groups, LGBT activists and asylum officials.