Iran Lures Transgender Foreigners for Surgery but Forces Operations on Locals

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Iran became a pioneer in gender transition operations by forcing procedures on L.G.B.T.Q. Iranians. Desperate for cash, the Islamic republic is hoping to attract trans patients from around the world.

For 40 years Iran has performed more gender transition surgeries than many other nations, largely a result of pressuring gay and gender-nonconforming citizens to undergo unwanted operations or risk the death penalty.

Now, faced with an economy crippled by war and sanctions, the Islamic republic is promoting its expertise to a global audience, hoping to attract transgender foreigners with the promise of inexpensive surgeries packaged with luxury hotel stays and sightseeing tours.

Desperate for foreign investment, Iran’s theocratic government has set a goal of generating more than $7 billion from medical tourism annually, according to Iranian state news media, about seven times as much as it earned last year. That objective has resulted in the proliferation of medical tourism companies, marketing not just nose jobs and hair transplants, but vaginoplasties, mastectomies and penis constructions through glossy English-language websites.

“We handle everything from start to finish, providing the best medical services to ensure a stress-free experience,” said Farideh Najafi, the manager of two medical tourism companies, MabnaTrip and MedPalTrip. “This includes booking hotels, hospitals, transportation and more,” she said.

Iran is one of the few places in the Muslim world that allows transgender people to seek gender-affirming care, and even subsidizes it. For many foreigners traveling to Iran for transition surgery, and indeed for many transgender Iranians, these operations can feel lifesaving. But the country’s reputation as a pioneer in the field belies the abusive history of the operations and the grim reality for most L.G.B.T.Q. people there.

In Iran, gay men and lesbians can be punished by public flogging and the death penalty. As a result, the United Nations Human Rights Council found, many gay and lesbian Iranians who are not trans are “pressured into undergoing gender reassignment surgery without their free consent.” » | Pranav Baskar and Leily Nikounazar | Friday, October 10, 2025

Transitioning Genders: The Importance of Self-Love | Documentary | Real Pride

Aug 14, 2021 | This two-part special gives us incredible first-hand accounts from transgender people about their experience of affirming their gender – often at huge emotional and financial cost.

From rock stars to body builders and average suburban dads, this documentary shows us how far medicine has come in fulfilling the dreams of people who were born in the wrong body.

Some of the language used in this documentary may not be the correct terminology to accurately represent people currently.


BEWARE! This documentary isn't for everyone. It is very explicit and many people might take exception to some of its content. Until I watched this documentary, I knew virtually nothing about this phenomenon. Many of you might not know much about the phenomenon either. I have watched this documentary to be better informed about it. These days, there is so much in the newspapers about gender reassignment.

My posting this documentary should not be construed as an endorsement of these procedures. Frankly, I neither endorse them nor do I condemn them. I know far too little about them to do either. What perplexes me, though, is why so many people want to change their sex. Up until relatively recently, people having sex change operations were pretty rare. Not so anymore, it seems. Puzzling! – © Mark Alexander

Parents Who Refuse Children Gender Change Face Seven Years in Jail in Scotland

THE TELEGRAPH: SNP outlines proposal to ban 'conversion therapy' after its self-ID law was blocked by UK Government

Parents who refuse to allow their children to change gender would face up to seven years in jail under SNP plans to ban “conversion therapy”.

Proposals published on Tuesday state that actions designed to “change or suppress” another individual’s gender identity, causing them physical or psychological harm, would become illegal under the radical law.

SNP ministers acknowledged that so-called conversion practices often took place in a “family setting”, raising the prospect that parents could be criminalised if they refuse to go along with their child’s declaration that they are transgender.

Stopping someone from “dressing in a way that reflects their sexual orientation or gender identity” was put forward as an example of an action that would become illegal, even if a parent believed they were acting in a child’s best interests. » | Daniel Sanderson, Scottish Correspondent | Tuesday, January 9, 2024

This is absurd. The Scottish government must have taken leave of its senses. – © Mark Alexander

BBC World – Iran's "Sex-change" Solution ( Long Version)

Nov 13, 2014 • Ali Hamedani, BBC World service reporter, visits Turkey to meet LGBT exiles who have fled Iran in fear of being forced to change gender

BBC World – Iran's "Sex-change" Solution

Ali Hamedani, BBC World service reporter, visits Turkey to meet LGBT exiles who have fled Iran in fear of being forced to change gender

Gay People in Iran - Newsnight Report on Wednesday 5th November 2014

Ali Hamedani reports on gay people in Iran being pressured into gender reassignment surgery, which is usually reserved for transgender people. Many Iranians flee the country to avoid it, as gay relationships are punishable by death.