Arkan, 23, from Iran chats with his girlfriend in Texas on Skype. Arkan found life in Iran impossible as a transgender person, so fled to Turkey with his mother.

Arkan /

“Life in Iran is impossible for too many reasons.” Arkan, from #Iran, was threatened by his father and extended family when they discovered he identified as a transgender man. He escaped to Turkey. “When I arrived in Turkey I was severely damaged mentally. Turkey is not safe for me, not because of Turkish society but because of the other Iranian refugees here. I feel safe amongst the other LGBT refugees living here, but the others try to abuse me as a girl.” Arkan says he attempted suicide six times while in Turkey awaiting resettlement. He now lives in Texas, USA. Photo by Bradley Secker

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