The UK’s first Muslim Pride event, organized by Muslim charity Imaan LGBTQI+, is set to take place on Saturday. The event, which was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic, will celebrate “queer Muslim culture, activism, and history.” Attendees can look forward to a day filled with panel discussions, workshops, and entertainment. The event is expected to be attended by up to 300 people and will be hosted at Queen Mary University of London.
Being LGBTQ+ can be a difficult experience for Muslims around the world, with many feeling unable to safely come out. In some Middle Eastern countries, homosexuality is against the law. Census data for England and Wales in 2021 shows that of all followers of major religions, Muslims were least likely to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another minority sexual orientation (LGB+), but the most likely to identify as transgender. Despite this, Muslim Pride is important in challenging the assumption that the faith is “inherently queer-phobic.”
Unlike many other Pride events, Muslim Pride will be behind closed doors. The primary goal of the event isn’t to go through the streets and have everyone else see them, according to one of the organizers, Sayyada. For some of the members, their access to traditional prides is also limited due to anxiety and the added concern of being identified, especially for LGBT+ Muslim students from abroad who have scholarships from governments or institutions in their home countries, as being outed could impact their status.
Imaan LGBTQI+ has supported Muslims for more than 20 years and has been attending Pride in London since 2003. “We [LGBTQ+ Muslims] often lose our connection to those spaces [mosques] and they’re so important,” Sayyada says. Being outed could have a severe impact on the ability of LGBT+ Muslims to study, look for work, or even have a place to stay. The purpose of events like Muslim Pride is to provide a safe space for queer Muslims to celebrate their culture and identity
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More