Today, I had the pleasure of speaking at the IMAAN (www.imaan.org.uk) annual conference in Euston. Imaan is a group that focuses on informing and campaigning on issues affecting gay and lesbian practising Muslims and I was invited on the basis of my interfaith work and as an elected politician who happens to be Muslim.
I am proud to have spoken since for me, there is no contradiction in being gay or lesbian and wanting to practise Islam. Many Muslims make reference to the Sura (chapter) on Lout (Lot) in the Quran, yet there are numerous examples and references to respecting individualism and in protecting the integrity and honour of people. Islam also makes clear that people are different and that difference is a gift from Allah (God) or the Almighty. I therefore see no conflict and whilst this may be unsettling to many, the very fact that someone classifies and wants to be identified as a Muslim means that they should be respected as so.
Today, I saw many young Muslims who practised their faith and who also felt at ease with their sexuality. In fact, I heard about how Islam teaches them to be truthful and for many, they will not marry simply to live a double life so that they are not seen as 'bringing shame on their families.' They would rather not ruin the life of a woman and live a lie as their faith gave them a strong moral compass. This resounded with me greatly.
As a heterosexual man who happens to be Muslim, it is very clear that a space is needed for these young men and women. Not only do they suffer from homophobia, they also suffer from Islamophobia outside and within gay and lesbian communities. This double whammy is not lost on them and in fact, it makes that space for their voices even more important. I for one will support their work and within Haringey, I am sure that there is a large gay and lesbian Muslim community, bearing in mind that Muslims make up over 40,000 residents in the Borough.
You see, the strength of Islam is its diversity. And within that diversity, there are also those voices which I listened to today. I hope that they continue to stand up for who they are and help to change midsets and prejudices that are ranged against them on a daily basis.
4 comments:
This seems like an enlightened event, but I have one question for you Fiyaz, my fellow norf Londoner:
Are you proud, as you say, of your sexuality?
I ask because I am not proud of mine. Nor ashamed of it - but rather, it's just there. If anything, it's a kind of burden, albeit perhaps an amusing one. Life, I suspect, would be a lot more productive if I didn't have this ridiculous (and typically futile) urge to smile at waitresses.
Julian; you perhaps do not need to learn to be proud about it because you were not first raised and socialised to be ashamed of it. All to common an experience for lesbian, gay and bisexual people regardless of faith.
Fiyaz; I just wanted to say I am glad you were there to ensure there was a Liberal Democrat voice present. Though I must pick up on the male-centred line "They would rather not ruin the life of a woman and live a lie as their faith gave them a strong moral compass" -- remember there are as many lesbian Muslims as there are gay Muslims!
Hello Jen,
I entirely accept that I’ve had it easy, being heterosexual, and the theme of gay pride is an understandable reaction to the moronic prejudice that people are subjected to.
However, while this is understandable, I don’t think it’s necessary to react to an attack by immediately taking what may appear to be polar opposite stance.
For example, I’m not a nationalist, and I have little time for nationalists – and indeed, I have received threatening correspondence from a nationalist / white supremacist group. However, my disagreement with such people does not mean that I hate Britain, nor am I ashamed to be (vaguely) ‘white European’. To do so would be to accept their terms of the debate, and to give them a war which simply doesn’t (and shouldn’t) exist.
Far better, I feel, to refuse to engage with the false dichotomy (pride – shame) at all.
Jen / Julian,
Sorry to respond to you both in a singular e-mail and firstly, Jen, I take your point on board fully.
Julian - I see where you are coming from and thanks for your honest and straightforward response. I think I would err towards what Jen said about people being raised and socialised to feel ashamed about being gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Hope all is well with you both.
Fiyaz
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