Rihanna's Secret Anthem for Gay Life in Iran

In Tehran, under the strict watch of Iran's morality police, I hid my sexuality from everyone. My parents supported the Islamic Revolution, and the Ayatollah's portrait in our home was a constant reminder that being gay was forbidden. The regime allowed little space for joy. Western music was considered dangerous. I did not attend a real party until my mid-20s. That first underground gathering became my gateway to a hidden, gay Tehran. There, I found a sense of freedom. And one song by Rihanna came to symbolize my ability to finally be myself.