A few questions featuring Arad, who was voted Model of the year by our readers.
Why did you want to participate in the book?
I knew that participating in the SEX = POWER = FREEDOM book would be a perfect way for me help others by telling my story of how I escaped from Iran and why obtaining political freedom was so important to me that I left all of my family behind in Iran and risked by life by escaping on foot through the snowy mountains from Iran to Turkey. I think it is important to tell my story because most people are unaware of what it is like for most people that have to live in countries like Iran where people are denied every type of freedom and personal choice. In Iran, I was not allowed to wear my hair the way I wanted or shave my face, or wear a t-shirt, or be a model or a body builder and people aren’t even allowed to date or have sex outside of a heterosexual marriage because everything is controlled by the government. If I would have been identified as gay by the Iranian police or government I would have been killed. I hope the book will let me tell my story and bring awareness to the plight of those who still must live in places like Iran and those that have been imprisoned, tortured and killed simply because they were LGBT or opposed their governments.
You’ve had quite a personal experience, escaping from Iran, into Turkey and finally, the U.S. How has this aspect of your background influenced your work as an Andrew Christian model?
When you go from living in an oppressive country like Iran to living in a free country like the United States you feel like one’s world is turned upside down. At first, I felt very disoriented, everything was new and I didn’t speak English but I recognized that Americans have a basic respect for each other which doesn’t exist in Iran. In the United States, people smile and are generally happy. For me freedom and happiness are contagious and I want to help spread hope to other LGBT people who must live in any oppressive environments whether it is a small town in the U.S, or with a family that isn’t accepting or in a country like Iran where people aren’t allowed even basic freedoms. I also want to raise awareness for the plight of those who live in hostile oppressive countries and help make Americans understand that most people from the middle east are just like you and me…they want to live in peace and freedom and many good people need our assistance.
What’s the best part about working with Andrew Christian?
Andrew Christian is revolutionary! I think the best part of working with Andrew is that there isn’t any judgment with him or the company. Andrew Christian promotes and accepts people for who they are. Andrew does so many amazing things for the LGBT community and this book is just one of the many good things that Andrew has done since I have known him. Besides the overall message of freedom, one of the best parts of the book is that Andrew listed everyone name who contributed to the book on a thank you page in the back of the book so that everyone can be part of this project. I am so proud that Andrew created this book and allowed me to be part of it because he is the only one I know who is brave enough to print a sexy 200-page photo book with a political LGBT empowerment message.
Tell us briefly about growing up in Iran, to give our reader’s an idea of your upbringing… (Although with the countries attitudes to the LGBT community).
Living in Iran was not a happy life…people are just trying to try to survive day-to-day. I think it is important to tell my story because most people are unaware of what it is like for most people that have to live in countries like Iran where people are denied every type of freedom, personal choice and chance to advance your life. In Iran, I was not allowed to wear my hair the way I wanted or shave my face or wear a t-shirt, and people aren’t even allowed to date or have sex outside of a heterosexual marriage because everything is controlled by the government. If I would have been identified as gay by the Iranian police or government I would have been killed.
What was happening in Iran before you left/during your escape?
I was in the military in Iran but decided to leave because I knew I would not be able to have any type of life that would provide me any happiness there. In countries like Iran people have no respect for each other and most people aren’t happy. Obtaining political freedom was so important to me that I left all of my family behind and risked my life by escaping on foot through the snowy mountains from Iran to Turkey. I had no passport but my family did pay a guide to take me half way through the mountains. One I was in Turkey I was arrested for having a forged passport and imprisoned for 6 months. During this time Turkey was getting ready to deport me back to Iran where I would have been hanged for being a military deserter. I was able to get a message from prison to my family and they hired an attorney which contacted the United Nations refugee program. I was only accepted into their refugee program because the U.N. knew that I would be killed if I was sent back to Iran.
How did this affect you? (Were you scared?)
Being in a Turkish prison was horrible but I did meet other Iranian people in prison who were also trying to escape from Iran and they were the ones who told me about the United Nations refugee program that ultimately saved my life.
Tell us about your escape, and how you got to America?
When I was in prison in Turkey I was able to get a message to my family and they hired an attorney which contacted the United Nations refugee program. I was accepted into their refugee program because the U.N. knew that I would be killed if I was sent back to Iran. After I was released from prison I had to stay in Turkey for three years for all of the U.N. paperwork to be finished.
What happened once you were there, and how did you end up modeling for Andrew Christian?
After my paperwork was completed by the U.N. I was flown to Dallas Texas and I only had $300. I did have a case manager who trying to help me with the basics of survival but it wasn’t easy. At first, I felt very disoriented, I didn’t speak English, everything was new and there were endless consumer choices. My case worker helped me get a job at an elevator company but It didn’t pay much and had to ride my bicycle 1.5 hours each way to get to it. The U.N. makes refugees repay their airline tickets so I spent the next year trying to pay that off…but at least I was free and I appreciated that Americans have a basic respect for each other which doesn’t exist in Iran. I knew I needed a way to make more money so I became a gogo boy. The first night I worked I made more money that working 4 months in Iran. Being a gogo boy I was able to learn about the amazing work Andrew Christian is doing for LGBT empowerment and was invited to become one of Andrew’s Trophy Boys.
Had you dreamt of modeling before, or was this something new?
I had always wanted to model but that isn’t even a choice in Iran. U unless one follows the strict religious laws you will be arrested.
Can you give any words of advice/comfort to those that are in similar situations to yours?
I knew that participating in the SEX = POWER = FREEDOM book would be a perfect way for me help others by telling my story of how I escaped from Iran and why obtaining political freedom. For me freedom and happiness are contagious and I want to help spread hope to other LGBT people who must live in any oppressive environments whether it is a small town in the U.S, or with a family that isn’t accepting or in a country like Iran where people aren’t allowed even basic freedoms. I also want to raise awareness for the plight of those who live in hostile oppressive countries and help make Americans understand that most people from the middle east are just like you and me…they want to live in peace and freedom and many good people need our assistance.
