5.8. Gay male questionnaire responses
LGBT Republic of Iran: An Online Reality?
bisexual, I’ve never really acted in any unusual way that would
make people guess my sexual orientation. Apart from this ‘LGBT family’ of ours, I’ve only told one of my friends about my sexual
orientation. I know he’s open-minded and that’s why I told him. He reacted in a pretty positive way and offered his support. He listened to me without judging me and I’m really thankful to him for this”
// The virtual world
“The internet is a great portal and because of the limitations
on us here in Iran I do make use of its possibilities. It’s helped me a lot to analyse my situation and my identity. I use the internet to go on Facebook, to read news, or to do research on a special
issue. I use the internet for two or three hours per day. I tried to find a partner in Yahoo’s chat rooms a few times, but I wasn’t
successful. I probably failed because of my criteria and because
of the polluted atmosphere of the internet. And I preferred being alone to being with some of them. I actually don’t like making
friends online at all. I’d rather find my partner through friends or at least in the real world”
// Past/present/future
“I’m male and I’m 22 years old. I was born in Mazandaran
province and at the moment, I’m studying electrical engineering in Babol. I spend my time listening to music, reading books, wat-
ching TV, hanging out with my friends, and sometimes I go to the gym ... I watch foreign movies and TV shows more than Iranian ones. I really like the TV series ‘Fringe’ and the film The Professional … Whatever I become in the future, I want to be happy
with what I’m doing and live without regret. I like liberal and
honest people and I don’t like those who darken the pure human emotions and try to make them pessimistic. I would hate myself if I turned out like that”