Iran's queen of pop, Googoosh, has released a video in support of the country's gay and lesbian community, becoming the first prominent Iranian to speak out against homophobia.
The video for her latest song Behesht (Heaven), releasedon her Facebook pageon Valentine's Day, portrays a lesbian couple in a relationship banned both by society and by their families.
Navid Akhavan, who wrote and directed the video, said it had been viewed by thousands of Iranians online or via illegal satellite channels.
"The reactions we have seen so far have been tremendous," he said. "The comments I have read online and the messages I have received from people within the Iranian LGBT community have brought tears to my eyes."