“I was born a woman, let me die as a man” captures the story of a young transsexual couple in Iran, Mahsa and Ahora, as they both contemplate and prepare for their transformation, following them before and through the surgery. Mahsa is a male to female transsexual and Ahora is female to male transsexual. While having their permits, they are both rejected by their families; struggle financially and are waiting for a solution to complete the process. Ahora recently had cosmetic surgery, which is part of the process of becoming a man.
Over 30 years ago, Iran’s late Leader Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini issued a Fatwa (religious law) that has given transsexuals the permission to undergo sex exchange surgery in Iran. A country with such strict morals and traditional values carries out more sex change operation than any other nation in the world after Thailand. Although transsexuals are protected in Iran by the law, they still face severe social harassments and financial problems. Most, rejected by their families, they are forced to leave their homes while they hardly can obtain a job. Since Iran is a male dominate society, female to male transsexuals have an easier time to merge in the society and start a new life. They usually get married and have a good life after sex exchange operation. However male to female transsexuals often get harassed from other men due to their feminine appearance and behavior. People see them as gays and threat them so. Many of them end up with divorce, and while not being able to support themselves financially, they take a path down to prostitution.
“I was born a woman, let me die as a man†captures the story of a young transsexual couple in Iran, Mahsa and Ahora, as they both contemplate and prepare for their transformation, following them before and through the surgery. Mahsa is a male to female transsexual and Ahora is female to male transsexual. While having their permits, they are both rejected by their families; struggle financially and are waiting for a solution to complete the process. Ahora recently had cosmetic surgery, which is part of the process of becoming a man.