There Are No Homosexuals in Iran

by Khajistan Press, Bahram Afrouz, Ali Qazilbash (Translator)

There Are No Homosexuals in Iran is a short book of encounters by an Iranian man who meets men like himself and asks how such a life is carried across Iran. A teacher prays to be freed from his own desire. A husband keeps parallel lives from touching. A young man walks the Karun River at night, asking why no one will hold him. Circulated online in Persian since 2021, this cracked dossier shows up here in English, in print for the first time as broken and exact.

75 pages, Paperback

Published April 27, 2026

Reviews

[gjmsn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. The narrator’s way of setting the scene, telling stories, and talking with people somehow reminded me of the early seasons of Sex and the City, where Carrie Bradshaw would interview friends, acquaintances and strangers about various topics leading into the theme of the episode. But each story in this then goes deeper than a funny storyline, exploring under the surface how these men have to hide themselves, lie to themselves, navigate persecution, and imagine forms of happiness that feel difficult or unattainable.

Many of the experiences shared resemble what we’ve heard from older gay people here who lived through periods when they also had to conceal parts of themselves. There’s a lot here that can be looked to for guidance, perspective, and solidarity in a moment when many of us feel like we’re backsliding. A great reminder of queerness as a universal struggle, even across vastly different times and places.

[Wendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible piece. It documents the stories of the many gay Iranian men the author meets, telling different stories about love, denial, isolation, and survival. Pieced together with incredible bravery, doing important work.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked this up at the brooklyn zine fair! always lots of love and admiration for self-publishing—
sharing stories that would otherwise go untold ❤️

[Eli LW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut punch

[Stefan Hölzl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fascinates me about this slim volume is how the author manages, in simple and unvarnished language, to portray how people survive in a hostile environment, how they are broken by hatred, and how, despite everything, they build fulfilling lives.