After forcing gender surgery for decades, Iran now touts its expertise to pursue medical tourism goal

"The newspaper reported that transition surgeries that cost $45,000 in the U.S. and $30,000 in Thailand can be obtained for $12,000 or less in Iran. The newspaper spoke to a transgender man from Orange County, California, who said he was as attracted by the level of expertise as by cost. But while Iran's medical community performs a significant number of gender-affirming surgeries, that's not a sign of tolerance."

"Iran has long performed more transgender surgeries than any other nation, largely by forcing gay people to undergo the procedures. But is the theocratic regime now using its expertise in the field of gender-affirming care to increase tourism? Iran's government just announced a goal of attracting more medical tourism, according to the Tehran Times, and is seeking the equivalent of $8 billion in annual revenue from it."

Iran performs more gender-affirming surgeries than any other nation and is promoting medical tourism to capture about $8 billion annually. Transition procedures in Iran are far cheaper than in the U.S. or Thailand, drawing international patients attracted to perceived expertise and lower cost. Homosexuality remains punishable by death, and many gay and bisexual Iranians undergo surgery to avoid persecution. The state still classifies gender dysphoria as a mental disorder but subsidizes gender-affirming surgery after patients undergo operations. A 1980s directive allows legal recognition only following surgery, raising concerns that medical tourism promotion masks systemic repression.

Read at Advocate.com