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Imaan THE UK’S LEADING LGBTQI+ MUSLIM CHARITY

Spring 2018
About
Imaan

Social
Meetups
Culture

In this first edition of the Imaan quarterly newsletter, we wanted to show off the charity in a new way.
Though Muslims seem to be plastered all over the media - they only hate us, cuz they ain’t us - why not
showcase the diversity within the community as well as its many allies.

Contrary to belief, the Muslim LGBTQI+ community does exist.

Ethnically, Culturally and Religiously.


Imaan is here, queer and ready to support you.
Letter from the Editor
As’salamu-alaikum

A very warm welcome to the first edition of


Contents
the Imaan Quarterly Newsletter and what
better way to start anew than in Spring!

I’ve sat here for ages trying to figure out what


to write. I’ve procrastinated so much and in
so many ways. I’m probably only writing this About Imaan.....................................................3
because I’m procrastinating something else. The Board of Trustees...........................4-5
Maybe the dishes.
Gallery.............................................................6-7
This same habit was also a reason I prolonged Save the date - Imaan events..............8
joining any kind of LGBTQI+ group including
Imaan. I always had an excuse to not partake #Briefed - LGBT History Month..........9
in the community that has now become part Not fake news..............................................10
of my everyday life.
Culture........................................................11-13
It wasn’t a case of coming out or not but Things to watch.............................................................12
to bond with others like me: people that What to read...................................................................12
understood what it’s like being from a muslim UK Pride events.............................................................13
background and not living up to traditional
standards - in more ways than not being able Can you relate?.............................................................13
to cook round chapatis in my situation.

I’m still new to Imaan and joined initially as a


volunteer. I’ve so far attended one event and
came away with a great experience in addition
to a few new LGBT friends and inshallah
more. I promise to attend more events and,
dear reader, I hope to see you there too.

I may not look exactly like my professional


looking selfie below in reality, but if you see
me say ‘Salaam’.

I hope you enjoy having a read through.


Please feel free to let us know if you have any
topics or features you want to include, and
maybe even contribute.

Love,

Aqsa
Editor & Marketing Volunteer

Imaan - Quarterly Newsletter is brought to you


by Imaan LGBTQI+ Muslim Support, c/o Positive East,
159 Mile End Rd, London E1 4AQ
Charity No. 1158977

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ABOUT
Imaan has supported LGBTQI Muslim people, their families and friends,
to explore issues of sexual orientation within Islam since 1998. It provides
a safe space and support network to share individual experiences and
institutional resources.

Imaan is the largest network for Muslim LGBTQI people in Europe.

Imaan promotes Islamic values of peace, social justice and tolerance in its
work to build a world that is free from prejudice and discrimination against
Muslims and LGBTQI people.

Imaan is an independent organisation run by volunteers and without


external funding. In addition to international conferences, Imaan holds
monthly meetings, provides a free, dedicated counseling service,
represents members at asylum tribunal cases and speaks at external
conferences.

How to donate
Imaan currently runs entirely on individual donations.

While Imaan membership is free, we do have running costs. We ask everyone


receiving this newsletter to make a regular monthly donation to Imaan so that
we can improve our services to LGBTQI Muslims.

Please set up a direct debit or standing order of £2, £5, £10, £15 or more a
month for:

Account name: Imaan


Account number: 60534196
Sort Code: 20-71-74
Bank name: Barclays

Imaan Newsletter - Spring 2018 / 3


Changes to the Bo
Some organisational news: we've had res
accordance with our constitution and wit
Mohammad who has previously served as
be stepping up as chairperson to replace
career outside of Imaan but will continue to
secretary. We take this opportunity to tha

Mas Events
mas@imaan.org.uk

Treasurer
faizan@imaan.org.uk

Faizan
Frankie
Trus
Events
frankie@imaan.org.uk

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We’re her
oard of Trustees
shuffle of Imaan's board of trustees. In
th the support of the rest of the board,
s a trustee and long-term volunteer will
e Faizan. Faizan will be focusing on their
volunteer as treasurer. Asad continues as
ank all of the trustees for their service.

Trustee
anjum@imaan.org.uk Anjum
Chair
mohammad@imaan.org.uk

Mohammad

stees Asad
PR & Secretary
asad@imaan.org.uk

re to help! Imaan Newsletter - Spring 2018 / 5


‫ان‬
‫ِ‬
‫إ َميا‬
Save the date
March
29th, 7pm - Trans awareness
event @ Positive East
April
19th, 6-8pm - Third Thursday,
mixed meet @ Positive East
21st, 1pm - Mental health
May awareness @ London College of
17th, 6-8pm - Third Thursday, Fashion
mixed meet @ Positive East
19th, 26th - Saturday Iftaar
mixed meet @ Positive East
June
2nd, 9th - Saturday Iftaar mixed
meet @ Positive East
21st, 6-8pm - Third Thursday,
Mixed meet @ Positive East
July 23rd - Unity Eid @ Positive East
6th - Pride placard creating
7th - Pride London
8th - Black Pride
19th - Post Pride celebration @ Positive East
August
16th - Third Thursday, Mixed
September meet @ Positive East
8th - Big Rainbow Eid @ Positive East 18th - Picnic
20th, 6-8pm - Third Thursday, Mixed
meet @ Positive East
October
18th, 6-8pm - Third Thursday,
Mixed meet @ Positive East
November
15th, 6-8 pm - Third Thursday,
Mixed meet @ Positive East December
24th - Anniversary celebration 13th - Christmas @ Positive East

Please note that event dates and times are correct at the time of publishing and may be due to change. Feel free to check with us first.
Venue addresses
Positive East, 159 Mile End Rd, London E1 4AQ
London College of Fashion, 20 John Prince's Street, London, W1G 0BJ

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#briefed is a segment dedicated to learning
more about LGBT history. Have a topic you want
us discuss? Let us know! #Briefed
LGBT History Month
Aqsa Mustafa, Editor Section 28 became law on 24 May 1988, not
without several protests including an invasion
February was LGBT History month, an annual of the BBC's Six O'Clock News where one woman
month-long observance and celebration of the (still chained herself to the newsreaders’ desk and was
ongoing) civil rights movement for the community. sat on by a newscaster.
But what do you actually know about it? Many religious groups supported the law
It first took place in February 2005 and was including the Muslim Council of Britain (awkward!).
initiated by activists Sue Sanders, Elly Barnes However, the opposition campaign within the
and Schools OUT UK. Sanders explained that House of Lords included openly gay muslim Lord
she founded LGBT History Month because she Waheed Alli (#proud).
‘could see that schools The repeal was not without
and other institutions schools and other its own drama in Parliament
were ignoring lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and trans
institutions were ignoring with Conservatives attacking
Labour’s plans to abolish the
(LGBT) people and their lesbian, gay, bisexual, law. In 2003, David Cameron
history - we were being
lied to by omission’.
and trans (LGBT) people had accused the then-Prime
Minister Tony Blair of being
Its aim is to increase the and their history - we ‘anti-family’ and wanting to
visibility of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender
were being lied to by ‘promote homosexuality in
schools’. Nevertheless the law
(“LGBT”) people, their omission was repealed.
history, lives and their Years later, David Cameron had issued an apology
experiences in the curriculum and culture of regarding the previous law he was supportive of.
educational and other institutions, and the wider That is progress, even if it was for political gains.
community. Patrons of the month have included
Cyril Nri, Angela Eagle, Labi Siffre, Sarah Weir and
Ian McKellen
LGBT history month is celebrated during
different times of the year around the globe. For
the UK, it is celebrated in February to coincide
with the 2003 abolition of ‘Section 28’.
Section 28 originated in the transition in British
society from homosexuality being illegal to legal
but still largely discriminated against, following
debate in the 1950s and the 1967 decriminalisation During LGBT History Month, our trustee,
of gay sex for those over the age of 21 in the Sexual Mas, has taken part in discussing 'Whether
Offences Act 1967. there is space for LGBT+' in religion at
Following the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 80s Reading Council, and has been a guest
where the LGBT community suffered further lecturer for Anglia Ruskin University
discrimination, guidance was published indicating discussing the intersectional work of
that schools should not teach homosexuality as Imaan. Mas is now working on exciting new
part of sex education lessons. Conservatives in projects for London Pride!
the media and Parliament pushed for this cause
because they feared the left-wing councils who What did you do to commemorate LGBT
were funding LGBT support groups and thus had History month? Tweet us @ImaanLGBTQ
some influence on the local education authorities.
Imaan Newsletter - Spring 2018 / 9
In the News, like for real
Australia: Muslim owned EU: European Parliament The UN High Commissioner
fashion company showcases condemns gay ‘cure’ therapy, for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad
LGBT pride hijab calls for members to ban it Al Hussein said at a press
The European Parliament has conference in Jakarta on
voted (435-109) to condemn February 7 he was “greatly
gay ‘cure’ therapy and urged concerned” about the proposed
member countries to ban the revisions of the penal code. He
harmful practice. said the proposed amendments
In a statement they explained were “discriminatory” and
that “[The European Parliament] appeared to be planned for
MOGA originally released the welcomes initiatives prohibiting “cynical political purposes.”
rainbow headscarf in support LGBTI conversion therapies and
of same-sex marriage, during banning the pathologisation
last year’s national ballot on the of trans identities and urges
issue. They had even sent one all Member States to adopt
to ex-Australian Prime Minister similar measures that respect
Tony Abbott – who opposed and uphold the right to gender
marriage equality – to show identity and gender expression”.
how different communities can It is the first time the Parliament Source: CNN
embrace one another. has made the specific disavowal
The company showed off their of conversion therapies. (Meanwhile in) Kenya:
Source: Pink News Country awaits verdict of
design at Sydney Mardi Gras -
the city’s pride celebration. case that could see gay sex
Source: Pink News Indonesia: Gay sex ban looms decriminalised
LGBT Kenyans anxiously await
Tunisia: Tunisian government the ruling of a landmark case
bans ‘Call Me By Your Name’ seeking to decriminalize gay sex,
which is punishable by 14 years
in jail in the conservative nation
where gay sex remains taboo
and persecution is widespread.
The government said that
decriminalization of gay sex
The world watches in angst would lead to the legalization
A screening of the film ‘Call as Indonesian lawmakers could of same-sex marriage, which is
Me By Your Name’ was cancelled vote on a new law that looks not allowed anywhere on the
after the intervention of the set to criminalize sex outside continent apart from South
government. of marriage and homosexual Africa.
The distributor had filed an sex in Indonesia, as part of Kenya prosecuted 595 people
application to the Tunisian wide-reaching changes to the under the Penal Code between
Minstry of Culture however country’s criminal code. 2010 and early 2014, the
the permit was refused and the Conservative Islamic government reported. If the law
venue was forced to cancel the movements have increasingly is repealed then all the criminal
event. gained influence amongst cases like these will collapse or
It is still illegal to be gay in the population and within will be void.
Tunisia. government where by all 10
political parties support the ban. Source: Reuters
Source: Pink News

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CULTURE
-Things to watch-
-Things to read-
-UK LGBT Pride-
-Can you relate?-
Things to watch One Day in the Haram
Film screening, Multiple UK Locations
This is a film that shows the inner workings of the
Grand Mosque of Mecca - the holiest site in Islam.
This is first time anyone has ever been allowed
behind the scenes & given access to some of most
sacred places.
Tickets do sell out quite quick so book while you
can - click here to book.

Queer Eye
Netflix - TV Series
If you haven’t watched this or come across this -
where have you been? The show follows the new
Fab 5 made up of five gay ment that help people sort
out their lives. This season is based in the US state Warda - The story of a queer Muslim woman
Georgia and it’s so interesting to see how people Film, funding campaign
from a region stereotyped for being conservative A short film aimed at exploring something that’s
welcomes the men with open arms. I love that usually hidden: queerness among Muslims. The
the Fab 5 learn just as much from their subjects story follows Warda, an unhappily married young
as they teach them. Personally, my favourite is Muslim woman living in London, who crosses
Jonathan, but shout out to UK gay Pakistani Tan paths with eccentric and adventurous fellow
France featured in the show. Muslim Sarah. Click here for more info.

What to read?
Halfway Human
By Carolyn Ives Gilman - Sci-fi

Appropriate Behaviour
Film, 15 (1h26 min)
Shirin, as bisexual Persian American, is struggling
to be the ideal daughter and social butterfly in hip
Brooklyn while in the closet to her family but in
a relationship with her girlfriend. The story may The story follows Tedla, an evolved being of
feel eerily familiar to those that have to struggle humanity that is asexual. It is neither male nor female
with maintaining several identities. This romantic and refers to itself as a “bland”. On its home planet,
drama is a great insight into how different people blands are a slave class that are not thought of as
explore sexuality. human and inferior to either the male or female. They
are mentally, physically and sexually abused by their
human masters.
Have any recommendations? We would Tedla is found by a social worker named Val Endrada
love to hear from you. just after trying to commit suicide. The existence of the
bland on another planet sets into motion a political
conflict between the two planets.

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UK LGBT Pride Events (Spring 2018)
An overview of some of the events taking place around the country that you may
wish to attend and represent LGBTQI+ Muslims and allies.
April May
21 April - Digital Pride 12 May - Exeter Pride @ St Sidwell's Centre, Exeter
Launched by Gay Star News, this is the world’s first Phoenix and Rougemont Gardens
online LGBTI event consisting of a week of events, 19-20 May - Lancaster Pride @ Dalton Square
videos and debates. It's a great way for the LGBTI 26-27 May - Birmingham Pride @ Birmingham
community to celebrate Pride globally. Gay Village
26 May - Grampian Pride, Aberdeen
27 May - Durham Pride @ Durham Sands field

Can you relate?

Thank you for reading, everyone. We hope you have


enjoyed reading this as much as we have putting this
together.

Love, Imaan x

Imaan Newsletter - Spring 2018 / 13

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