Meet the Andrew Christian Model Speaking Out Against Immigration Bans

This is Arad Winwin, a gay model and adult actor of Iranian descent who came to the US with the help of the United Nations' refugee agency. In a recent interview with Cocktails and Cocktalk, Winwin (who was a featured face in underwear brand Andrew Christian's coffee table book SEX=POWER=FREEDOM) recalled his life in Iran, and how at the age of 22, he ran away from a post he had in the Iranian military.

“Living in Iran is not a happy life. People are just trying to trying to survive day-to-day,” Winwin told Cocktails. “People are denied every type of freedom, personal choice and chance to advance ​their​ lives. I knew I would not be able to have any type of life that would provide me any happiness there.”

After leaving the Iranian military, Winwin ran away to Turkey, where he was held in jail for half a year for having no passport. With the help of his parents, an attorney, and the UN, he was able to come to the US as a refugee.

He later went on to speak about the importance of marginalized people being able to find freedom from oppression: 

“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 US, or with a family that isn’t accepting or in a country like Iran where people aren’t allowed even basic freedom."

Click through to see more pictures of Arad Winwin, and follow him on Instagram here.

All photos via @arad.winwin on Instagram. h/t: Queerty