This post pretty much came about because I was asked if I had resources for Muslims who were discovering or newly coming to terms with their sexuality. I didn’t, and the poor advice I had to offer was … poor. So, I pulled up a few of the blogs I followed that are targeted towards queer Muslims, and put together this little post for you!
Ahwaa: An open space to debate LGBTQ-related issues in the Middle East
ComingOutMuslim (check out their project here: [x])
YouKnow-You'reaQueermuslim-When
Muslims Against Homophobia and LGBT Hate facebook group
Queer Palestinian Empowerment Network (QPEN) facebook page
Queer Muslims of Boston facebook page
Totally Radical Muslim Zine
A quick gender/sexuality 101
But what does a queer Muslim even look like? (hint: they look like people)
Defining homonationalism and pinkwashing.
PDF:Homosexuality In Islam, by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle (Intro + 1st Chap) Buy your own copy!
A good read-along-with the above book, Desiring Arabs by Joseph Massad and an online article here.
PDF:Muslim LGBT Inclusion Project, by Intersections International
Why Safe Spaces are Important
“I’m confused about my sexuality.”
“I need proof from Qur'an and Sunnah that I’m not Haraam.”
“What about the Qur'an and Hadith that chastise LGBT*Q Muslims?”
“You cherry pick your hadith!/You cherry pick from your religion!”
Some hadiths can be read in different ways, so it’s best to look at the outcome.
“Islam and LGBT* are not mutually exclusive.”
“But I was taught Islam was the most heterosexist religion.“ [tw: continuously moving background at the link]
”But all Muslims are homophobic!“ (spoiler alert: you’re wrong.)
”But Muslims hate sex - it’s ~dirty~ to them!“ (I would recommend this class for basic 101 on marriage and love [sex] in Islam. Take it with Basyouni.) (See also: x and x)
”Love the sinner, hate the sin, and why that’s bullshit.“
”Should I come out?“ (spoiler alert: that’s up to you!)
”Is there a place for LGBT*Q Muslims?“ (Or ”There’s no place for LGBT*Q Muslims/no organisations/no hope.“)
”Will LGBT*Q Muslims go to hell?“ (spoiler alert: I’m not God, how would I know?)
”But it’s unnatural!“ (lolk)
”There aren’t any gay Imams or Sheikhs, so you’re just making things up!“ (Also here.)
”But no fatwa was made!“ (It’s Wahabi.)
A post about other Sheikhs’ opinions.
”But there are no inclusive mosques for LGBT* Muslims!“ (Just stop.)
There is no place for homophobia in Islam.
Let’s repeat that: There is no place for homophobia in Islam.
Ayahs that talk about Prophet Lut.
A closer reading of ayahs re: homosexuality (prev here but no longer).
See also: You decide how you interpret your religion.
Homosexuality in Predominately Muslim Countries (and some more on homosexuality in Pakisan)
Pride Parade in Bangladesh (Please remember “hijra” is a slur depending on where in South Asia a person is from – please ask before using it as a catchall!)
Predominately Muslim Countries who are taking steps toward equality. [x] [x, x] [x] [x]
Queer Muslim Cinema: Azizah, Illuminations, Coming Out Muslim, A Jihad For Love, I Exist, Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love, Al-Nisa [BONUS: Show Al-Nisa and Red Summer (the producer) some love!], Circumstance, Naz + Maalik (Currently in production), Gay Muslims (a documentary produced by Channel 4 in the U.K), City of Borders, The Bubble, Out in the Dark (Palestinian and Israeli fall in love. facebook page), Facing Mirrors (2011; ft. an FtM Iranian), I Accept Me! (2011), Hir Poem, My Child.
Queer Muslim Music: Tum Hi Ho (by a drag artist in Lahore).
Queer Muslim Literature: [x] [x] [Gaylaxy magazine] [Queer Beirut] [Sex and Desperate Hearts] [Bareed Mista3jil] [Totally Radical Muslims Zine] [5 Queer Magazines] [Not Your Tragic Queer Muslim Story/How to De-Queer Your Apartment] [Brown and Queer in America] [Queer South Asians and the Politics of Family] [A Thing of the West] [Coming Out in the Muslim Community][9 articles on being LGBTQ in MENA][Queering the Middle East] [Seeking Home: The Lives of Gay and Transgender Asylum Seekers of the Middle East]
Queer Pakistan LGBT*Q Voice and Support Group [and here is a news article]
A good thing to remember is to avoid the self-hatred phase, if you can. Focus on loving yourself, and realising that Allah made you just the way you are, and that you are loved. If this phase is unavoidable, here are some helpful sites:
Help! I’m losing my Islam
Supporting someone who self-harms
Suicide and Crisis Hotlines
Online Crisis Network (for those with anxiety which prevents them from talking on the phone)
If you are a student and would like to get Faisal Alam to speak at your uni, or to see if he is coming to your uni soon, click here.
If you would like to attend Faisal Alam’s Retreat for Queer Muslims and their partners, here is more info.
If you would like to book Irshad Manji for an event click here.
If you are a PoC LGBTQ identified Muslim, QWOC is looking for submissions.
If you are from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or India and want to share your experiences (anonymously), please click here.
If you are South Asian and queer, consider submitting to Dayaar-e-Yaar! And if you are South Asian, queer, and between 18-25, consider attending this SoCal retreat (deadline for 2015 registration is Dec. 8th, 2014).
If you can spare some funds, help navigatethestream, a queer Muslim, become an Imam to help the Muslim LGBT* community!
Lastly, here is a link if you are NOT a queer Muslim, but want to be a good ALLY! (And here is another on how NOT to be a saviour!)
Muslim-Queer-Friendly Blogs:
gamechangershow
andulkaphoto
turnnoffyourmind
stormborns
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
vaporwave
