Historical Context: Equal Rights Before Empress Farah Pahlavi
Prior to Empress Farah Pahlavi’s prominent role in Iranian society, Iran was deeply rooted in patriarchal traditions, offering women and minorities limited legal standing and social freedoms. Women's rights campaigns existed from the early 20th century, but progress was sporadic, often hindered by conservative norms and a lack of political will. Women had minimal access to education and political participation, could not vote, and their representation in decision-making positions was almost non-existent. The prevailing legal codes favored men in matters such as marriage, divorce, and child custody, severely restricting women's autonomy and public presence.
Minority and LGBTQAI+ communities similarly faced marginalization: same-sex relations were stigmatized within a conservative, religious framework, and both legal recognition and social acceptance were rare. Although not as violently persecuted as they would be post-revolution, LGBTQAI+ individuals largely lived in secrecy and without official protection.
Empress Farah Pahlavi: Champion for Equal Rights
Empress Farah Pahlavi assumed her role during a critical phase of Iran's modernization in the 1960s and 1970s and quickly emerged as a leading advocate for the enhancement of women’s status. As the first crowned Empress of Iran and the first woman in the Muslim world to hold such a title, she symbolized what was possible for Iranian women. Her influence went far beyond ceremonial duties; she proactively endorsed and helped implement progressive reforms, presided over and financially supported a myriad of educational, health, social, and cultural institutions, and promoted legal advances that advanced women’s rights.
A central legal victory was her instrumental backing for the 1975 Family Protection Law, which provided women more power in divorce proceedings and curtailed men’s ability to take multiple wives. These reforms gave unprecedented agency to Iranian women, enabling them to advocate for their interests in court and making women’s voices count in matters of marriage and family law.
She was a key force behind expanding educational access for women, supporting girls' schools and championing university education, including the founding of Shiraz University, Iran's first American-style institution, which significantly increased female student enrollment. Farah Pahlavi was also the patron of many organizations dedicated to literacy, children's welfare, and professional training for women.
In cultural and social domains, she was an ardent supporter of the arts, overseeing the creation of museums, cultural centers, and festivals that showcased Iranian heritage and contemporary achievements, helping Iranian women participate and excel in arts, literature, and public life.
Farah Pahlavi as a Role Model for Iranian Women
Empress Farah’s visibility, education, and engagement set a new standard for Iranian womanhood. She was not only the symbolic figurehead of women’s progress but a hands-on advocate—traveling the country, listening to citizens' needs, supporting social welfare projects, and championing both urban and rural women's causes. Her own achievements and lifestyle—grounded in intelligence, elegance, and public service—inspired generations.
She broke barriers as the first-ever female regent in Iran and indeed the Muslim world, publicly donated blood, and represented Iran internationally at conferences and state visits, actively participating in policy and humanitarian issues. Through her tireless efforts, she encouraged women to pursue education, arts, professions, and activism, reinforcing the idea that women could—and should—play vital roles in all sectors of society.
Positive Shifts and Improvements During Her Era
The Empress’s influence precipitated marked improvements across Iranian society, most notably for women but also with broader societal effects. Key areas of improvement included:
Education: Access to primary, secondary, and higher education for women expanded dramatically, resulting in increased female literacy and university attendance.
Legal Rights: Legislation such as the Family Protection Law improved women's standing in marriage, divorce, and custody, providing protection previously denied.
Professional and Political Opportunities: Women entered the workforce in greater numbers and were able to attain public office and high-ranking positions—for instance, the appointment of Iran’s first female cabinet minister and ambassador.
Health and Social Welfare: The Empress led efforts to improve healthcare, maternal and child welfare, and support for the disabled and marginalized, such as lepers.
Cultural Participation: Participation in and patronage of arts and culture bolstered Iranian identity and offered women unprecedented public engagement.
Humanitarian Reach: Emergency and welfare organizations under her protection provided vital services to the entire population, embodying a modern, inclusive vision.
Progress and Challenges for the LGBTQAI+ Community under the Pahlavi Era
Under the Pahlavi regime, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, attitudes toward LGBTQAI+ individuals were ambiguous but nonetheless more tolerant compared to subsequent decades. Homosexuality was officially a legal and social taboo, but enforcement was inconsistent, and in major urban centers there was an emerging, if discreet, social space for LGBTQAI+ people.
Empress Farah Pahlavi distinguished herself as a progressive voice—unlike much of the political and clerical establishment, she showed empathy for gay and transgender individuals and encouraged the formation of supportive communities where people could seek protection and mutual aid. Notably, people like Keyvan Khosrovani, an openly gay designer for the royal household, and Maryam Khatoon Molkara, a trans activist, found support within the royal circle, reflecting a level of practical inclusion rare at the time. While not a full embrace of LGBTQAI+ rights by modern international standards, these gestures represented meaningful support in a conservative context.
Post-Revolution Regression for Women and LGBTQAI+ Community
After Empress Farah Pahlavi and the Shah were exiled during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the new regime swiftly reversed decades of progress. Women’s rights suffered immediate setbacks: the Family Protection Law was annulled, the age of marriage for girls was lowered, mandatory hijab was instituted, and family and criminal law reverted to patriarchal standards. Women lost the ability to serve as judges or seek custody after divorce, could not travel freely, and were often barred from public professions.
The LGBTQAI+ community faced an even bleaker fate. The Islamic Republic criminalized same-sex relations with harsh penalties, including flogging, imprisonment, and the death penalty, which have been actively enforced. Social visibility became life-threatening, with reports of executions, torture, and “honor killings”. The regime’s only partial exception—legal recognition for those who undergo sex reassignment surgery—was rooted more in enforcing heteronormativity than in recognizing trans rights, and individuals who deviate from strict gender and sexual binaries remain targets of discrimination and violence.
Current Suffering of LGBTQAI+ Individuals in Iran
Today, LGBTQAI+ Iranians endure relentless legal and social oppression. Same-sex sexual relations are considered crimes against morality, with punishments ranging from public lashings to execution for male same-sex acts. Laws criminalize “immorality,” “indecency,” and gender nonconformity, and there are no protections against discrimination for LGBTQAI+ individuals in housing, employment, healthcare, or legal proceedings. Police and paramilitary forces regularly harass, entrap, and brutalize suspected LGBTQAI+ persons.
Transgender people, while able to access some gender-affirming health services and legal recognition, due to religious rulings, face deeply entrenched stigma, frequent social rejection, family violence, and harassment—often forced to undergo surgery or live double lives to avoid persecution. Reports document routine torture, sexual assault, and arbitrary arrest of LGBTQAI+ individuals. In addition to state violence, families often perpetrate honor-based violence; some individuals are murdered for their identity with little fear of legal consequence.
Activists, especially those who become visible online or in media, risk arrest, torture, and even the death penalty for so-called “corruption on earth” or “promoting homosexuality”. Many LGBTQAI+ Iranians are forced to flee the country, becoming refugees in search of basic safety.
The dramatic rollback in both women’s and LGBTQAI+ rights illustrates the extent of the fragility of social progress in the absence of institutional protection and enduring political will. What was once a period of relative openness and improvement has, since the revolution, been replaced by systematic repression and suffering under current laws and social norms.
Conclusion
Empress Farah Pahlavi’s impact as the first lady placed her at the heart of Iran’s most progressive era for women and, by extension, for LGBTQAI+ individuals, who gained a measure of safety and sympathetic attention that was extraordinary for the time. By prioritizing education, health, culture, and legal reforms, she elevated the status of women and created space—even if limited—for the emergence of LGBTQAI+ lives within a conservative society. Her example as a role model continues to inspire Iranian women and activists worldwide, while the contrast to current realities in Iran underscores the ongoing struggle for equality, dignity, and human rights in the face of persistent oppression.
