Jack is a 32-year-old Iraqi trans man. A few months back he decided to leave Iraq and move to Lebanon to do his top surgery and spare himself and his family the social quarrels with the conservative tribal entourage, he wouldn’t find the tolerance and acceptance that would let him live comfortably with his body. He reminisces about his childhood, he remembers how he used to look different from his siblings, he always had facial hair despite the feminizing hormones prescribed by the doctor, whom he was forced to visit by his father, without considering Jack’s preference. While in Iraq, he was introduced to the queer community through social media, he maintained virtual friendships with people from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and other places from the world, he couldn’t recognize members of the community where he lived due to social difficulties. He remembers one guy who was beaten to death by a bunch of fanatics who considered him “pervert” for having long hair. Jack says that the phenomenon of physical attacks on people with tattoos and long hair for being considered as “perverts” is quiet spread.  

The father was waiting eagerly for his crown prince to be born. But after 9 months, his wife gave birth to yet a third baby girl. Having been disappointed twice before that, Green's father did not accept this shocking outcome and he did everything in his power to convince himself that this baby girl is indeed the boy he has been waiting for. And as "his boy", he would take her with him when he goes to hang out with his male friends, he would pick up her boyish outfits himself, and he would even talk to her like one of his buddies to the extent of sending her pictures of hot girls.  

Nicole began exploring her sexuality at a young age. By the time she was twelve, she had her first kiss with her best friend, but decided to ignore her feelings and deny them. At that time, awareness was not available, so nothing related to that kiss felt normal. She eventually decided to move on and forget that incident. 

After thirty years of leading a life without an involved partner, Ghada decided to divorce her husband and did it without difficulty. “No luck, after thirty years of marriage... there was no luck.” Ghada is a mother of four. She took on the responsibility of raising and looking after them on her own. Despite all the challenges, she resisted and endured, and when she decided to get divorced, she was already financially independent.

Sonia, 62 years old, lives alone in Broumana, without any friends, people there avoid her, harass her and insult her from time to time. Sonia says that she knows some homosexuals who live there, but they avoid her every time she runs into them, as if they don’t know her. Sonia adds: “I don’t know why people are afraid of trans, while they accept homosexuals more than they accept us”.  

Maya tried to kill her maternal uncle who was raping her since she was nine years old. “I thought if I kill him, I will put an end to my nightmare and my justice will be served. Instead, I was sentenced to six years in prison. The worst part is that I was being raped by dozens in prison, while outside of prison, I was only being raped by one person.” 

Georgina was sixteen years old when she opened up to her parents about her identity, but her father told her to stay away from such “things”. When she replied that it is her character since she was little and it was beyond her control, he took her to a psychologist to get treatment. The doctor told them that her female hormones are dominant and cannot be treated.  

While looking at her old journal, Jinan realizes the improvement in her handwriting. She is also conscious that the letters and words are windows to the soul as well as to distant horizons. She believes they can transport you to places where the soul and the mind connect. The young woman suffers from reduced mobility resulting from cerebral palsy since birth.

When I stood in front of the mirror, I was not only facing my body, but also “Miss Spoon” and other sarcastic names I was called for having short stature. It felt as if I was finally letting those labels off my shoulders, and I felt lighter. I always felt targeted; and that’s why I chose to stay at home, hiding from people as I was unable to expect what they could possibly call me.

I was forced into my first sexual intercourse at the age of 12. My father was an alcoholic and tried to rape me. I managed to evade him as much as possible, but the aggression continued.  

I tried to inform the security forces, because I was aware of what was happening, but instead of arresting him, they arrested me, and I was threatened not to mention the rape incident again. 

I thought marriage would save me from my family, especially from my brother, who denied me my right to study, work, and communicate with the outside world, because I am a girl, and in his opinion, girls should stay home. Every time I revolted against his approach, he would beat me up.