The Huriyah Blog

Lesbian Muslims

2011-11-08T17:33:00.001-08:00

Second thoughts on a rainy night in Brazil by Rahal Eks

2011-11-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

Second thoughts on a rainy night in Brazil by Rahal Eks

I never believed it is feasible to return - my motto has always been "moving forward" with strong overtones of "yalla/vamonos" - therefore the idea to coming back to a place where I had lived before in my past provoked mixed feelings before I actually arrived and definitely it keeps producing second thoughts ever since I'm here - and that on various levels and regarding multiple issues. It was another rainy gloom day and the night was the same. Only a moment ago it stopped raining. The air feels warm and wet, somewhat luke warm, and from the nearby Atlantic Ocean I can hear the waves crashing onto the rocks. Even the air has a salty taste. The sounds are mixed with distant music and probably football in action (the soccer version, not the American sport). For some reason there is hardly any car or bus traffic at this time. Somewhere across the water in the dark of night is the island, one of my former home bases on this planet. Itaparica, Mar Grande... But I doubt I'll take a trip across to check my memories against the current facts of reality - I've already had plenty to deal with concerning the gab of Salvador Bahia of my memories and the current state of affairs, dominated by high street crime, prostitution (straight & gay), and poverty.

The rain just started for another round, more intense than before. The idea to perhaps re-settle in this area or at least use it as a second base for an on-going part time gig, doing a fluctuating number between Europe and South America is definitely off my option list and plan B is being activated as an alternative. Whatever that may be!? Time will show.

A wet little mouse just tried to enter the room, but Afdhere heroically fought it off screaming and bashing something against the door... (he is very popular with the mosquitos too).

Only the other day I decided to delete my planetromeo profile and Grindr (I recently created both, yet in vain) - ever since I feel relieved and liberated from wasting time in virtual Goofey-Land battling off fetishists and virtual weirdos who indulge in "open relationships"... Even if I may sound old-fashioned I honestly prefer 3-D encounters to smell people out and hear their voices than dealing with short-hand communication in the style: age, location, nationality, top or bottom, what's your fetish, are you free now? It is the gist of the instant gratification culture, if I may use the term culture in this context at all - and in my eyes it represents one of the two great evils pestering our time: one is fossilized religious fundamentalism, the other the globalization of the world. Both are equally threatening to healthy diversity in a cultural and individual context. Like two sides of the same rusty coin.

Earlier today during a brief dry moment I went out for a stroll along the beach, armed with an umbrella. It looked gray and grim with threatening clouds building up on the horizon and only very few people out and about. While looking at the skyline of the now urbanized & touristic island I noticed a Brazilian man looking for something in the shallow water, the rocks and in the sand of the beach. Was he trying to catch a fish? It didn't look like it. He came closer and asked if I spoke the language.

"Yes, more or less!"

He proudly showed me a little coin.

"I'm looking for money and found already one coin!"

The man was young and poor. He wore a t-shirt with Arabic writing about the Egyptian Revolution, about freedom and change and I wondered when the Arab Revolution would reach these shores with full blast?

Would there be an "Occupy Brazil"?!

The gab between the few rich and the many poor is tremendous here and so is the issue of unresolved racism, at times subtle, at times blatant. On TV most people shown are white and one gets the idea as if someone is trying to sell you the fantasy that this country is not brown, black and most diverse...

The rain calmed down for the time being. I'm listening to Turkish Sufi music and for me it isn't really a surprise that the tolerant and harmonious Sufi Tradition is said to be most active in Latin America these days, with tekkias being build in various places and increased interest to enter the Sufi Path. I guess that's the good news with a positive future perspective, even if the present makes one wonder... But as we've heard before: "This too shall pass!"

Ishq bashad, saludos Rahal

Fake Glorias and random reflections in Rio de Janeiro - by Rahal Eks

2011-10-31T13:32:00.000-07:00

Fake Glorias & random reflection in Rio de Janeiro - by Rahal Eks

Today it is a rainy day and I'm hiding indoors in a shopping mall with a free wifi connection to write this rap because the internet in the hotel is down again. "Maalesh / never mind," one would say in Egypt and here too a laid back approach seems most appropriate.

The first few days the weather has been as expected: sunshine and heat! Wonderful light is the norm, so are very relaxed and mostly beautiful people, lovely food. The language too sounds very sensual and pleasant and if you happen to speak Spanish it is feasible to catch the drift "mas o menos / more or less" - and certainly being understood by the Brazilians.

On day one Afdhere, who joined me here and I went for a stroll in Copacabana...very lovely in many ways. But soon we spotted numerous fake Glorias parading along the beach. I'm not talking of drag queens, I mean those guys who had plastic surgery to get fake biceps, fake asses and fake everything. You can read them like a open book because when these types walk the silicone moves in a certain way and gives it away: the 10.000 or 100.000 $ body. Don't poke it too much, the pads might slight off to a wrong position, LOL.

Needless to say you also see tons of ladies with fake asses, fake breasts and fake everything. This is plastic surgery city number 1! When we sat down on a bench watching the people pass a hooker with a lip job positioned herself under the palm tree to our left. Meanwhile more and more fake Glorias came waltzing by who had never seen a gym from the inside, but who looked overly defined - the muscle-queen-syndrome par excellence. Long live plastic and everything fake - Illusion-Land. Sad and funny at the same time and so far removed from reality - as if this were a suburb or LA. I wonder who dreamed up these doubtful beauty ideals? Meanwhile more and more fake Glorias, both male and female came passing by...there was no end in sight.

Shake it baby, but don't break it, otherwise your silicone might explode in one huge fake orgasm of liquid plastic dripping forever. Sticky, like stretched bumble gum - so slick and smooth. Yuk!

Checking Grindr we were in for the next shock: gay globalism had reached Rio in full blast. Where are the yellow-pagers who do all the numbers in the book without filling out a pre-order form?

All these cats are plagued by the globalized gay beauty ideals. The clothes these people wear, the music they listen to and what they aspire to is exactly the same as in any other western metropolis - as if a global bug has infected the entire planet with these same ideas on the plastic front of unreality, a heaven for fake sisters and their preconditioned and exactly normed fantasies, as if they were putting in an order at the pizza delivery for extra cheese and no onions please!

Thanks mate, it ain't my cup of tea - I can well live without Grindr and Planetromero and I'm proud to be different and remain a misfit. I have no desire at all to fit into these so-called modern and contemporary gay world ideals and norms. I am not interested to dominate or be dominated by a whip-swinging master or some weirdo tarted up in uniform. If that is supposed to be sexy and sensual I'd rather not have it.

What saddens me most is that this gay globalization is spreading across the planet to even the most remote areas and to places that once had their own identities. A trend like this is a clear "adios" to diversity and that is the main tragedy. Thank Allah there will always remain some rebellious misfits who won't surrender to the fake Gloria syndrome and who stay real. Viva la diversidad! Long live diversity!

Apart from "globalized gay life" and the need for extreme security measures the city is rather pleasant...(however, not a place to consider a potential alternative home oasis putting up my tents). The dogs are barking and my caravan is bound to move on. I'm looking forward to soon head up North to Bahia, wondering if there things are a little more real and authentic? Time will show.

Ishq bashad, saludos Rahal

The High Price of Looking Like a Woman

2011-08-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

this is really wonderful. finally, millions of transgendered people worldwide will see an article in their local paper-- detailing the horrors many have experienced. thank you, new york times!

August 19, 2011

The High Price of Looking Like a Woman

By LAURA RENA MURRAY

ZAIRA QUISPE, 42, said she knew as a child that she was a girl, though she had been born male. She picked up a photo that she kept on the windowsill above her bed and held it out as proof. It’s a picture of herself as a smiling baby, naked and with legs crossed, concealing genitals. “Look,” she said, “even then I was trying to hide it.”

Ms. Quispe, an Ecuadorean immigrant who came to New York at age 9, was determined to get the curves that would make her look more feminine. But she lacked health insurance or the money to pay for surgical procedures that would provide them; they can cost as much as $70,000. So she tried something else: she went to a so-called pumper, a person who illegally injects silicone to modify the body.

For her first injections, she said, she went to the Upper East Side, to an apartment with a view of the East River. In a small room she lay down on a narrow massage table, having paid $1,200 to get four cups of silicone injected into her hips and buttocks — without anesthesia.

When she slid off the makeshift surgical...

THE IMPORTANCE OF GRATITUDE AND THE ART OF SAYING GOOD-BYE by Rahal Eks

2011-08-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

THE IMPORTANCE OF GRATITUDE AND THE ART OF SAYING GOOD-BYE by Rahal Eks

We're truly living in rough and unrefined times where things often get increasingly more barbaric and rude. Recently I was "blessed" with a variety of impacts of this type. Please don't get me wrong, I'm far from complaining, just telling my story based on real facts and quite nasty at that. Yet I'm grateful for these experiences and manage - against all odds - to turn them around, transform them, and get something positive at the end of the day. Years ago I would have cried, screamed and pulled my hair in agony and self-pity. Now I take things philosophically as they say and laugh/love a lot more - however, I do arrive at new conclusions and my private entry visa policy to my personal inner circle reality has changed dramatically. I'm getting - thank Allah - tougher and more critical. In other words, it is getting more difficult to convince me of the mostly doubtful glories of many contemporaries and their games and ego-battles and/or laziness and delusions. It's like making gold - you start with a lot of unrefined material and melt it down to the essence! In this view less is more and more becomes less!

We have passed the half-way point of Ramadhan and...Read more »

The Sacrifice of Personal Time

2011-07-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

By Imam Daayiee Abdullah

As an Imam, I am often privy to semi-private conversations that are easily overheard while people are generally having discussions or making commentary about their day-to-day lives. One theme that I hear quite a lot is the “sacrifice of time”—I don’t have the time—the “boogy-man” of commitment. Don’t get me wrong, people are committed to many things depending upon where they may be in life—early may be focused on education or work, middle on intimate and family relationships, later years dealing with health and maintenance issues, and like most other people, we have social issues we support.

What I don’t hear that often is the willingness to make some effort towards a common goal. What do I mean by that statement? A commitment to an ideal does not mean one has to do all the work. If it is an ideal that you support with a few volunteer hours a week, you are part of the process of moving towards the ideals to which you are committed. In order to express my point more clearly, let me give you a personal example.

In my early activist years, I learned Jane and John Q. Public types, as well as...

RIP, ifti nasim.

2011-07-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

a dear friend of the huriyah family has passed away friday. his poetry is familiar to all of those readers of the magazine. he was a wonderful spirit.

Pioneering gay Pakistani Muslim poet dies at 64

By SOPHIA TAREEN, Associated Press – 19 hours ago

CHICAGO (AP) — A well-known openly gay Pakistani Muslim poet and Chicago radio show host has died.

Ifti Nasim was 64. His sister Ajaz Nasreen tells The Associated Press he died Friday following a heart attack.

Nasim was a fixture in Chicago's South Asian community, known for his activism, flamboyant fashion and touching poetry that dealt with themes including homosexuality, politics and his native Pakistan. He immigrated more than three decades ago.

Nasim was a founder of SANGAT/Chicago, a South Asian lesbian, gay and transgender organization. His book "Narman" which was believed to be the first book of gay themed poetry to be published in Urdu.

He was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1996.

A funeral was Saturday. Religious memorial services were planned Sunday.

Red, green & the bee by Rahal Eks

2011-07-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

I'm in a new phase. Red for passion. Green clearly linked to Al-Khidr and recuperation, healing and nature per se. Evidently it is an interior state - but it also is reflected in my newly established base on the 10th floor with a skyline panorama view including the minarets of a distant mosque - half the apartment is painted green on the border towards turquoise, the other half red - my summer base and personal khaniqah/zaouia/tekkia. It could be anywhere and I won't tell you the location to leave room for your own vivid imagination. Feel free to be indulgent in this regard.

And what does the bee have to do with this?

It stands for "Al-Insan Al-Kamil", the perfected human being or in old Persian it was known under the term "Sarman" which means he who preserves the doctrine of Zoroaster, or the bee.

John G. Bennett, a student of George Gurdjieff wrote: "The word can be interpreted in three ways. It is the word for bee, which has always been a symbol of those who collect the precious 'honey' of traditional wisdom and preserve it for further generations. A collection of legends, well known in Armenian and Syrian circles with the title of The Bees, was revised by Mar Salamon, a Nestorian Archimandrite in the thirteenth century. The Bees refers to a mysterious power transmitted from the time of Zoroaster...
Read more »

Turkish gay pride

2011-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Turkish gay pride march draws thousands

By Jeremiah Bailey-Hoover, For CNN

June 27, 2011 -- Updated 1030 GMT (1830 HKT)

Istanbul, Turkey (CNN) -- Thousands of Turks marched through Istanbul in a demonstration calling for improved rights and greater social acceptance for the country's homosexual community.
Activists say the annual Turkish Gay Pride Parade, now in its ninth year, is the only march of its kind in a majority-Muslim country. Several thousand supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights carried signs and rainbow flags as they made their way down one of Istanbul's busiest pedestrian thoroughfares.
Participants chanted slogans against harassment and blew whistles, waved large rainbow flags and carried signs in Turkish and English that sported messages like "We're everywhere, get used to it" and "Dance, dance, against homophobia, dance."

More at: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/06/26/turkey.gay.pride/

UN Adopts Historic Resolution for LGBT Equality

2011-06-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

this is a victorious day for the world. truly, we have come along way. it has taken 66 years for the united nations to recognize that lgbt abuse warrants defending. so, this is amazing.

however, those of us muslim, there is a lot more work to be done.

"Arab and African states strongly opposed the resolution. Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Zamir Akram, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said the OIC was seriously concerned that the Council was discussing controversial notions of sexual orientation."

Link: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/UN-Council-Adopts-Historic-Resolution-Supporting-Equal-Rights-for-Gays-124080764.html

Going forward or the retro blues - by Rahal Eks

2011-06-15T13:40:00.000-07:00

Going forward or the retro blues - by Rahal Eks

I took the picture to the left during one of my delightful stays in Cordoba, Al-Andalus. Yes, it is the entrance to the complex where the Great Mosque is located - a huge and most beautiful witness to Spain's glorious Moorish past.

Cultures and religions seem to go forward, expand, evolve and at times decline and fossilize - the same can be said about the evolution of people. It is not always a straight-forward line going forward, at times it seems curved, at times fluctuating, going back, only to make another quantum leap out-doing itself on a higher octave and so forth.

Those on a mystical-spiritual path such as the Sufi Tradition - if taken seriously and whole-heartedly and under proper guidance of an authorized "friend" - can be expected to develop along an up-hill road where the journey towards "fana", annihilation, takes place, which ends in the the endless journey within Allah's Ocean of Unity, in baqa, the goal of every Sufi seeker. Of course the laws of diversity apply on the seeker's path, some are rocketing off like shooting stars, others meander like the modulations of Arabic notes in an Oum Kalthoum song or in el cante jondo del Flamenco. Yet others crawl along and seem to stagnate until their time for leaping has come. There are more than 1001 ways and modalities of traveling the mystic path...
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Can fiction help people?

2011-06-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

You must know by now the story of Amina Arraf. Lesbian from Syria who was kidnapped by the authorities. Since a week the story has been confirmed to be completely made up. The author of the blog is not gay or girl. He is a married American man who lives in the UK. He apologized to his readers and said he always wanted to write fiction. Amina was a way to express that. I ask the question in the title Can fiction help people? If you followed Amina's blog you would know it helped a lot of gay Arabs. They posted their comments and said it was wonderful to read about her life. I think that is enough reason to say well done to that man.

Mental Health (Daayiee Abdullah)

2011-06-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Several days ago, while researching mental health awareness amongst various faith groups, the numbers of Americans—54 million—have some form of mentally illness.[1] What I noted and highlighted in my research—in some cultures and communities—specifically among minorities—mental illness remains a subject of taboo and misunderstanding.

According to Dr. Donna Holland Barnes, a research associate and professor at Howard University's Department of psychiatry and director of the suicide prevention program stated, "No one wants to think something is wrong with them…People don't realize that the brain can malfunction just like any other organ in the body.”

In my early career and having worked in a substance abuse I was aware that substance abuse occurs across all spectrums of society. But it is also very important people educate themselves that mental health issues cover all ages, races, ethnic backgrounds, educational levels, and geographical regions of origin. Yet so many people of color, due to the stigma associated with mental illness, far too frequently, face barriers to receiving...

'gay free zone'

2011-06-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

imagine being in a bus or at a train station or any other public space in a global city in europe and seeing words like 'gay free zone'. that is exactly what some queer londonders were faced with when a muslim kid decided to be hateful. it's good to have the law on your side, but it's pretty sad that in 2011 a youth in any country can be so ignorant. you would think with all the internet access and human connection that these types of behavior is dying out. but bullying, whether its confronted with kids or the general public, is still a growing problem.

here is the story:

Man fined for east London 'gay free zone' stickers

A man has been fined after pleading guilty to putting up homophobic stickers in east London.

Mohammed Hasnath, 18, of Leamouth, Tower Hamlets, was fined £100 for the public order offence relating to using threatening words and behaviour.

Four stickers with the message "gay free zone" appeared at Bow Church DLR station, Whitechapel and on a bus, between 11 and 14 February.

more at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13620882

Are you ready? by Rahal Eks

2011-06-02T02:38:00.000-07:00

Are you ready? by Rahal Eks

"Are you ready?"

"For what?" you may counter.

Those in a freaky mood may reply: "For the psychedelic Bedouin!"

Others still need a second cup of coffee and some time to reflect.

However, I am ready and the issue is facing arrangements for your own funeral. Have you ever thought of it?

I did and I do and there is nothing morbid about it. And please relax, at this point I'm truly far removed from any suicidal ideas, au contraire, I'm in a better mood than ever - delighted with life - yet the thoughts about my future funeral arrangements crept up some time ago and I thought I'd share the updated version of my last desire with you.

In the more holistic Orient death is a well integrated part of...Read more »

Crossing the great river - intoxicated & far removed from virginity by Rahal Eks

2011-05-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Crossing the great river - intoxicated & far removed
from virginity by - Rahal Eks

Crossing the great river - cruzando el Guadalquivir - crossing al-wadi al-kabir - the picture to the left is one of my mirrored Cordoba reflections and most suitable for the current mood - meanwhile my father died. Others would call the crossing of a river, "the river Styx." Whatever works for you! Father, no matter if real, imagined or adopted, that's beyond the point - what matters is the fact of dying and death - not to forget the questions about life after death. "Die daily," wrote Mr. A. Crowley, who fancied himself as the Great Beast - his wicked sense of humor comes across when examining his "Book of Lies, chapter 69 - entitled the art to succeed" - probably he was the nightmare of every prudish Victorian.

But even our Prophet Mohamed advised us "to die before dying" - hinting at fana, to reach the mystical station of baqa.

Since Wilhelm's passing to the other side I've seen him in a vivid vision, quite alive, years younger and going strong, while smiling at me, followed by a clear dream. Therefore I'm not really mourning, but rather celebrating the end of his illness, his misery. My adoptive father is now free and well and at peace. Al-Hamdulillah! Maria hasn't caught on to it yet. She needs to face the facts and her true emotions...which are tucked away under obsessive preoccupations to establish a new...Read more »

Spring reflections & the issue of facing death and calamity – by Rahal Eks

2011-05-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Spring reflections & the issue of facing death and calamity – by Rahal Eks

March 21, the astronomical vernal equinox (or the day before or after, depending on location and custom), is the day of the Persian New Year or Spring Celebration called Nowruz, meaning literally “new light”. Originally it was a Zoroastrian festival and the most important one. It is believed that it was invented by Zoroaster himself. The “New Light” festival is celebrated by Iranic peoples and related cultures and also became a holy day for Sufis, Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, adherents of the Bahá'í Faith and probably as well inspired the Jewish Purim. It is the time when the Sun leaves Pisces and enters Aries, from water to fire and into new life. In this regard in could also be associated with Al-Khidr, the Green One who drank from the foundation of eternal life, or the Spring Fool, another Majnun and the Tarot card The Fool which stands for a new beginning and a journey.

This year started with unexpected intensity from the very beginning on. On the pleasant side I recall with fondness my productive and happy time in Al-Andalus. We well passed the Nowruz date now and made it to May 15, but due...

ooops - by Rahal Eks

2011-05-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

OOOPS - by Rahal Eks

Somehow the weather was strange today and my mood - for very personal reasons - was even stranger. I had just returned from another drama trip to Hamburg, facing the issue of serious illness and death already lurking around the aura of the man who acted as my father, to be precise: my adoptive father. But that is another story for a future rap in this blog.

While riding on my bike through the very center of downtown Berlin I tried to relax from the intense days I had gone through recently, while my heart was fluctuating between...Read more »

Stop the Horrible Bill in Uganda

2011-05-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

The "kill gay" Uganda bill is not just for gays only but for also lesbians and transgender people. It's a terrifying bill that will seek to silence and destroy the GLBT community of Uganda. It will turn family, friends, neighbors, and associates against one another because it will require the citizens of Uganda to tell the government about the sexual practices of those the government accuses of living an "immoral" lifestyle. If you're like me and you live in a free country like France, please make your voices matter by saying a clear NO to this immoral bill:

http://www.allout.org/petition/uganda

Uganda: Stop the "Kill the Gays" Law Now

UPDATE: Over 450,000 around the world have already signed this urgent call. We're now hearing the vote will be THIS FRIDAY. Add your voice now to keep up the pressure!

Can you please sign and share this petition demanding that Ugandan President Museveni stop the human rights violations by publicly vowing to veto the "Kill the Gays" bill?

In the next 24 hours, conservative lawmakers could move a bill that would make being LGBT in Uganda a crime punishable by death.

This hateful bill is part of a pattern of the Ugandan government's violent repression of pro-democracy forces within the country - and time is running out to stop it.

2011-05-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OFFICIANT

In 2010, Washington DC joined five states: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, in affirming same-sex marriages. Of course, being one of several hundred citizens that spoke in support of same-sex marriage in Washington DC, I testified before the DC City Council as their only Muslim religious leader to speak on behalf of same-sex marriage. Needless to say, the testimony presented convinced members of the City Council to pass the pending resolution and same-sex marriage became law in Washington DC.

It is very important to point out that it was not just queer people alone that supported the legislation for same-sex marriages in the District of Columbia. There were numerous non-gay religious leaders and their institutions that supported the law. These individuals and institutions recognized the inequality that had been set in place through centuries-old beliefs founded in heterosexual normative thinking that marriage is only for a man and a woman. In speaking with several of the religious leaders who had welcoming congregations, they indicated in the early days when they began supporting the resolution to change the law, there were personal and congregational debates on the issue. However, after much personal prayer and discussion with their queer and non-gay congregants, they had to stand for what was right in their scriptural understandings and providing equality under the law. In some instances, some long-term congregants left their fellowships never to return.

Furthermore, as it relates to the current status of same-sex marriages, organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Religious-Tolerance.org, showed graphically, how many states granted some form of "rights" for same-sex couples, and the number of countries in the world where same-sex marriage is endorsed. Though internationally, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden have same-sex marriages, I will concentrate on the United States in this blog entry.

In 17 of the 50 states, some form of same-sex marriage benefits do exist, five of those states and Washington DC, as outlined above, permit same-sex marriages and 12 states civil unions, but fall horrendously short in the benefits permitted couples in comparison to heterosexual couples. According to the 2009 report by the HRC, there are nearly 1131 benefits available to married couples-over 1000 of them are federal and 400 are state. I am happy to say, though, that under the Obama administration a number of federal benefits have been granted for same-sex couples where at least one partner works for the federal government have been granted, there remains significant ground to be covered in order to bring full equality of benefits for all married couples.

It appears, though, unless you are in a same-sex marriage or civil union, many queer people are not fully aware of some of the areas where they lose significant benefits because the current laws prevent them from obtaining as same-sex marriage or civil union couples. Some of these areas include survival benefits for children or parents, but also include many others like earned income tax credits, head of household status credit, child tax credits, tax on gains from sales, estate taxes, tax and retirement savings, family and medical leave, employee benefits, continued health coverage, and a barrage of other federal and state benefits.

Several weeks ago, I received my DC Marriage Officiant license to perform all types of marriages in DC or other places. Happily, I have framed the certificate and it hangs on my wall today, but I also recognize very clearly that whosoever wishes to marry, should the couple be same-sex, the full range of benefits and rights may be limited, or even null and void, depending upon where they reside. Though this license helps me further promote same-sex marriages, let it be known that I am not unaware of the extreme imbalances in state and federal rights that are granted to anyone that I marry. This is why I encourage you as queer Muslims who are in same-sex couples, or hope to be in the future, to continue in your local, state and federal jurisdictions, to push for passage of same-sex marriage. Be mindful that you should not ignore, but make sure to include in your efforts to change these discriminatory laws, your supportive friends, family and allies. It is through combined efforts that same-sex marriage will become as commonplace as opposite sex marriage. It is just my hope, regardless of a couple's religious affiliation or not, the majority of same-sex couples will not duplicate the outrageous 51% divorce rate that plagues heterosexual marriages today.

Note: Imam Daayiee Abdullah provides Islamic pastoral counseling at www.daayiee.com. Imam Daayiee Abdullah is an Islamic legal scholar and currently Imam and Religious Education Director at The Light Of Reformation Mosque in Washington DC. You may reach Imam Daayiee at his website under "contact me".

Late nite or early morning reflections - by Rahal Eks

2011-05-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

In my current time zone it is 12:13 A.M. and it is May 3, 2011 - a Tuesday. For some it is still late night, for others early in the morning. As a visual illustration for today's title of my rap I choose a photo taken in southern Morocco - it speaks for itself and the headline here, coming across as a calm counter-point to the rather intense times we can witness everywhere these days.

A lot has happened in the last few days and Allah knows what's gonna happen next? A terrorist attack has shaken Marrakesh and destroyed the Cafe Argana, one of my regular hang-outs at the Jemaa Al-Fna Square in the Medina. Luckily I was at the right time far away in a different city of another country and also none of my friends were hurt. Yet some innocent people died due to this horrible terrorist manifestation, spreading fear and insecurity, sadness and anger!

Meanwhile Osama Bin Laden was finally caught and shot in Pakistan. How do we as queer and progressive Muslims react? In certain parts of the US people are celebrating this event as a joyful victory. In other parts of the world people ask some vital questions about the legitimacy of the US army entering Pakistan - supposedly without any knowledge of the Pakistani government - to execute Osama. Why now and is this really Osama Bin Laden? Could he have really lived all this time in this compound without any knowledge of the local secret service and/or government? Wouldn't it have been better to get him alive and put him to trial at an international court? Where is the visual evidence, the detailed proofs? There are lots of questions and the more I think and reflect the more I want to ask. Wouldn't you?

I'm certainly not in favor of Osama Bin Laden & Co. or his perverted and retrograde ideas of Islam nor am I per se anti or pro American - but does his death really mark an end of terrorism? Perhaps the era of tyrants is over as we can see when looking at the Arab revolutions in progress - yet the road to utter freedom has not been reached fully and the problem of terrorism and its roots has really not been solved at all, for that we need some inner quantum leaps, as well as drastic changes in the exterior world. Osama is dead, but unfortunately there might be quite a few people who are still dreaming similar sick dreams as he did. In other words, we are far removed to waltz off into a terrorism-free sunset, I'm sorry to say. But let's not be naive, or cultivating an easy as apple pie mentality. The truth of the matter is unfortunately somewhat more challenging and not as easy as we would like it to be.

On the other hand it ain't a dull period of time. What matters is what we individually and collectively make of it.

Ya Haqq wa ishq bashad saludos,
Rahal

"Gay Muslims" from BBC

2011-05-02T11:13:00.001-07:00

O - by Rahal Eks

2011-04-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

O - for "obscene" - by Rahal Eks

What is obscene? I think that is very relative and depends on your culturally/religious conditioned perception or the fact that you perhaps liberated yourself. The other day while being back once more in Berlin in lovely spring I came across a rather striking house facade. It depicted a 3-D-sculpted naked man on a wall: The guy had an erection reaching to the top floor of the building - the somewhat more detailed close-up photo I took here shows the beginning of all this male glory reaching up to the sky. I perceive of it as art and think of it as beautiful with a good dose of humor added to the gigantic dimension of it. Prudish moralists might be horrified and conceive of this as obscene. In the same vein certain people get all wired up because in the UK there is another "Muslim" woman - a model!!! - planning to participate in a beauty contest representing the country.

Why shouldn't she? Because she is not a white Brit? Or because a Muslim shouldn't be doing this? Polarized voices express themselves about this "case". The lady in question is also getting positive back-up energy and feed back from the so far only Arab-American beauty contest winner and I would tout into the same freedom-loving horn: "Go for it girl, you have every right to do this and don't let those fanatical fundamentalists pee on your leg trying to convince you it's raining - it ain't obscene!" At least in my progressive eyes. The same could be said about the recent Turkish actress who stripped down for Playboy! "Pourquoi pas?!" Far out! I too have on occasion modeled naked for photographers and at art classes and it never crossed my mind that this could be conceived as "obscene" because I'm a Muslim.

Remember the following: "Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty!"

Why should we feel shame about our bodies - female, male, transgendered or inter-sexed?

The body per se is not obscene, but at times people's twisted attitudes and alienation, people's fragmentation, and of course fetishism and clonedom are obscene to me.

Talking of which, the doubtful manifestations of de-humanized leather/rubber/uniform-fantasies-on-a-leach and other nutty tralila from Clone-istan (= Absurd-istan) are meeting up in town! Isn't that slightly obscene?

I was hiding all day in the sunny Tiergarten park at the "Tuntenwiese" where queer nudists indulge in sun-bathing, not far from down-town - and why not? There was nothing obscene about the scenario, au contraire, it had something paradise-like, including a flair of innocence, like a fresh breeze on a sunny day with bright blue sky and recently born green leaves. Intensely green - as if everything was touched by the essence of Al-Khidr. Today the weather here was better than in Marrakesh or in Nerja, judging by my cell phone weather report service. Apparently I was at the right time, at the right place. The people too seemed alright, the majority reflecting the city's diversity - only a few fetish freaks crossed the greenery in heavy leather gear or other somewhat out of place drag (are the looking for Easter eggs or what?) - while we worked on our tans in the sunshine!

Now what do you conceive as obscene? The leather and other uniform drag or a bunch of naked bodies on the grass?

I could add other stuff to my obscene list: Building nuclear power plants in earthquake and tsunami-ridden areas like Japan. Or supporting Gaddafi & Co. Or those who miss the times of Hosni Mubarak's government. Or those who believe the Egyptian army is cool. I could go on and on.

Time for another coffee and to decide what to do tonight - evidently not partying with the fetish crowd - rather searching for an exotic alternative... Insh'Allah, I'll come across something delightful.

Have a nice weekend wherever you are! Ma as-salama, saludos Rahal!

Queer & mainly migrant backgrounds "entre nous" & other oddities - by Rahal Eks

2011-04-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Queer with mainly migrant backgrounds "entre nous" and other oddities - by Rahal Eks

Somewhere over the rainbow in what certain people might consider an ideal country there exists a now quite elaborate queer association: diverse & multi-lingual - which started off as a group of game-playing and gossiping gays with a certain migrant and ethnic background, some lesbians and from time to time a few transgender folks. Well, those modest origins are long gone, the association in question expended its ethnic horizons to embrace other types and activities and in recent years made a number of multi-level quantum leaps. This was also reflected in increasing official funding for a number of projects. And things kept growing.

Digital art by Rahal Eks

"It sounds great, doesn't it?"

"What's the name of the association and in which country this is taking place?"

It really doesn't matter. All you need to know is: Queer & mainly migrant backgrounds somewhere in a European country. What matters is the level of bad "nafs", the commanding self in the sub-basement: Inhumane, aggressive, accusing, and with the doubtful charm of a concentration camp vibe. Yes, I'm somewhat sarcastic and disappointed, sad - not to forget my anger.

The enemy is not in our camp, but elsewhere - so why should we devour ourselves and fight each other? It makes no sense. Do we by any chance have a problem with diversity and different view points or opinions? And what about the basic problem of being human at this point in time?

Someone made a rather strange statement: "The brain of the association left and we were not informed!" Never mind the information part - but if this brain statement is true, said association would rather sound zombie-like, as if being a bunch of fascists mourning the departure of a "Führer-type" or crying after a leader Atatürk-style, and not hip queers with mainly migrant backgrounds fighting against discrimination and claiming our freedom and equal rights where a personality cult is not in vogue.

I mean really, the problem is somewhere else. And the ugly kid is called "Sul-King-Eg-O".

"Oh!"

"Yes, indeed!"

I mean really, wouldn't you think that people with certain somewhat mixed, "Oriental" or semi-Middle-Eastern roots would at least drum up an emotional fight when the shit hits the fan? No. Not in this case. The departing party declined any communication offers or fight possibilities and months later decided to drag their hurt egos into the general member assembly to dominate and block the scheduled program and throw arrows of intense hatred into the bewildered crowd. Had those folks involved in the original problem fought it out loud way back, right then and there, it would not have come to this somewhat perverted undercurrent of mega-aggression.

Things became quite surreal and unpleasant when certain people were surprisingly accused of racism and transphobia. Especially the latter was a perpetual and repeated hit. At least in some people's eyes, because they kept repeating themselves in a loop.

Now, I'm going to say a few lines some people will not like and it probably won't increase my popularity - but too bad, that's how the cookie crumbled and this needs to be said, frankly and freely: "There are people who take their situation of being transgender or lesbian or gay or bi or whatever it is as a perpetual excuse for their fucked-up-ness as human beings and demand "carte blanche" for their ego-crap, while refusing to even reflect on the possibility of a perhaps existing need to refining themselves - such folks are really tiring, exhausting like black holes sucking energy in a negative way.

I believe it should be possible to criticize a person for a possible shortcoming or fault without immediately being accused of being transphobe or homophobe or islamophobe or a racist. Such attitude is fanatical and sick. Instead of trying to communicate, to express true emotions, and aiming to maintain and establish a unity any queer org will only suffer from these battles of the "nafs", while it weakens the organization in the battle against all sorts of phobias.

Anti-Semitism in the Muslim community

2011-03-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last month, the Jewish magazine "Forward" had printed an article by Rabbi Yoffie, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, entitled "An Appeal to My Muslim Friends", which dealt with the barbaric and clearly anti-Jewish rhetoric of a certain Egyptian sheikh. Qaradawi, who speak to a million strong voices at Tahrir Square last month, had just returned to Egypt, where once again he ignited his passion to destroy Israel.

This month, "Forward" prints a response to this. The article by Sayyid M. Syeed, the national director of the Islamic Society of North America’s Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances, says that "Anti-Semitism Has No Place in Islam".

Although Syeed's article comes across apologetic, it's still a good thing because a Muslim person has actually taken the time to respond to Qaradawi (even if indirectly). We don't eradicate such ideas in our communities by saying, "oh, look, he is doing better than before!" But by saying it is unacceptable. Period.

Transgender life facts about Libya

2011-03-20T13:03:00.001-07:00

I'm Saleemah. I was a columnist for Huriyah until we shut down last year. I usually would write about the Transgender community. Today, I'm writing about Transgender community in Libya. As I watch the news here in France and see my country bombing that country, I reflect on my memories of that Transgender community.

It's a very small community, as elsewhere in Muslim Africa, because most choose to leave their countries (as I did) for a better future. When I came to Paris many years ago, I spent some months in Libya. Many of us from the sub-Saharan Africa spend some time in North Africa before we finally make our way to France. I had met a nice transwoman in Libya and it made all the difference for me. She was kind, and really helped to feel at home at her home as well as in her country.

I learned immediately that Libya is a very different country from the rest of Africa. In fact, Libya has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in Africa. Really this is something you can feel everywhere in Libya. Their currency rate is high (€1 is 1.75 Libyan dirham). Their education is really high. It is has the highest literacy rate in North Africa, and the schools are compulsory until secondary level. This guarantees the average Libyan the basic tools to participate in the world.

Yes, Libya is a Muslim country and they do have prejudices against sexual and gender minorities. But I thought the Libyan way of life was excellent, and when your way of life is excellent you have the room for all of your citizens.

I pray and hope a new Libya will be as proactive about the basic Libyan life as the Libyan government which the West would rather have leave.

Late Thursday night thoughts by Rahal Eks

2011-03-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

786

It is Thursday night, the night of Mushkil Gusha, the Problem-Dissolver (as he is called in the Sufi Tradition). And when looking at the world these days, there are indeed tons of urgent problems to be solved. The sooner the better - because we are running out of time it seems! My prayers and dhikr is projected to various hot spots: Ya Shifa Ya Salam to Japan. Ya Fattah Ya Qawi to the rebels in Libya, Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and all other Arab countries, as well as to Iran and anywhere on this planet where urgent change from out-dated power systems is required and a different way of thinking and action.

If I were in Egypt and could vote I would vote "NO" - if - there are so many "if's" and I'm trying to resist the negative feeling of being overwhelmed. No matter where we turn by now it should be clear that there is One World, totally interconnected. What happens in the desert and/or in a small Japanese town have global implications - one world, one humanity - and what is happening effects us all regardless of ethnic background, religious beliefs or the lack of it, and where we happen to be on this planet whirling through the universe.

If I also had a say on nuclear energy I would vote like in Egypt: la, la, wa la! Three times "no!" Because by now we know it ain't clear energy. But we should have known a long time ago and acted accordingly with a focus on alternative means of power. Sometimes it seems humanity can't learn unless it is via the rough ride route. Putting all judgment apart what remains is the need for positive action and for prayer and remembrance of the Friend's Most Beautiful Names! At the end of the day He is the Master of the Universe and has the final say!

Ya Haqq! Wa ishq bashad! And no matter what a happy Mushkil Gusha night!
Rahal Eks

It's OK to be gay in Indonesia so long as you keep it quiet

2011-03-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

interesting article. from the german magazine dw tv.

Some might fear persecution being gay in the country that has the largest Muslim population in the world. But in Indonesia a huge gay film festival is held every year. What does is really mean to be gay in Indonesia?

John Badalu has been organizing the Q! Film Festival for the past 10 years. It is the biggest gay film festival in Asia and the only one of its kind in a country with a majority of Muslim inhabitants. The 38-year-old says it is possible to live a pretty free life as a homosexual in Indonesia's big cities but the challenges are increasing.

Last year, the Q! Film Festival was attacked by...

Video: Hypocrisy About Gay Love in Western Culture

2011-03-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

Over 3 million views and 2 thousand responses on this YouTube video. All to the question of "Why do you think society accepts lesbian love but fears gay love?" It is tackling the hypocrisy in the western culture about gay love being gross while lesbian love is considered sexy and even trendy.

Community organizations write to Congress on behalf of Muslims

2011-03-11T10:21:00.000-08:00

Afdhere's Note: this is a letter sent to congress.

The Honorable John Boehner
Office of the Speaker
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
235 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi:

The undersigned community organizations and groups concerned about civil and human rights and national security strongly object to the hearings on violent extremism recently announced by the Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, Congressman Peter King. Chairman King has characterized the hearings, tentatively scheduled for February 2011, as focusing exclusively on the “radicalization of the American Muslim community and homegrown terrorism.”1 If Chairman King proceeds with these hearings, please urge him to address....
Read more »

Video: Rashad Robinson on Oprah network

2011-03-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

Revolution/Evolution by Rahal Eks

2011-03-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

From Tunisia to Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, and Saudi Arabia... The Arab uprising is taking momentum with a loud call for freedom that can be heard from the Atlantic coast to the Persian Gulf and beyond. Will it also take off in Iran, in China? Nice it would be because our "Zeitgeist" is indicating change and a clear good-bye to all fossilized dictatorships, regardless if the old fossil is a military man, a self-glorious president, or a retrograde kingdom that came to doubtful power via the marriage with Wahhabism & British fitna during colonial times. Revolution is in the air and spreading, almost snowball-like and in all directions. "

"Marhaba al-huriyah, welcome oh freedom!" And hopefully this revolution also means a welcome to a badly needed evolution!?

With this I mean the required positive changes of attitude towards women, LGBT people, and...
Read more »

Gays In Egypt Are Afraid

2011-03-10T11:22:00.000-08:00

We gays of Egypt are now more fearful than ever between the new regime and as youth in our society hits the streets (and assault those they feel are less "powerful").

by Abu Omar

The Egyptian revolution has brought great success to the overall political situation in Egypt. As you read in the news lately, it has not been so great for everyone. Women, for example, are left out by the post-Mubarak regime as this Al Jazeera article articulates. Only one woman is included in the new government.

But political exclusion is not the only problem here. Women are now becoming more and more fearful to go out. The reason is the increased abuse of women.

And guess what? We gays are feeling...
Read more »

LGBT Muslim Magazine Shuts Down, Publishes Past Work In Books

2010-09-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.i-newswire.com/lgbt-muslim-magazine-shuts-down/48250

LGBT Muslim Magazine Shuts Down, Publishes Past Work In Books

After extended consultation with the Board of Directors, Huriyah’s Editor-In-Chief Afdhere Jama has announced today that the oldest magazine for LGBT Muslims is to shut down.

(I-Newswire) July 13, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA – After extended consultation with the Board of Directors, Huriyah’s Editor-In-Chief Afdhere Jama has announced today that the oldest magazine for LGBT Muslims is to shut down.

“We are all saddened by this,” said Jama, in a statement. “After many years of service to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or the queer Muslim community, we have decided it is time to close down.”

Huriyah, Arabic for “freedom,” has been publishing in Arabic since 2000 and in English since 2002. The Arabic edition was distributed to 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East. The English edition was distributed online, and has garnered a global status with over 200 contributors in over 70 countries.

“When we started, we were the only magazine doing this kind of work,” said Jama. “We introduced everyday queer Muslims from all over the world so that people would not feel alone being queer and Muslim. We invited scholars to teach people about Islam and how our religion is not against our diverse sexualities. But since then, the world has changed. There are now magazines in most major Muslim countries, countless blogs and websites, all devoted to queer issues in a more localized way. And because of that, we don’t feel like we are abandoning the community.”

Like many magazines of late, Huriyah closed down because of financial hardship.

“Huriyah was a unique project because it was privately funded, did not allow advertisement, and had not charged its readers,” said Jama. “And while all of us volunteered our time, it was becoming harder and harder to continue publishing. This was mainly due to the fact that it was becoming harder to find private funding. Our largest donors have lost a lot of money in the past couple of years because of the global financial crises. Our printing office in Cairo, which had been extremely generous, could no longer afford to continue offering the discounts. Add to the mix the fact that many of our staff could no longer work as volunteers, it became impossible.”

Closing down the magazine does not end its work.

“I’m pleased to announce that most of Huriyah’s original content will not be lost to the world,” said Jama. “Oracle Releasing, a multimedia company, has agreed to publish our content in book forms. These will include selected pieces from the voice section, which were the personal testimonies of everyday queer Muslims world wide; the regular columns, penned by a diverse group of LGBT Muslims; and the main interviews, conducted by me, with queer Muslim activists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and the likes.”

To continue with its tradition of offering literature to the community free of charge, Huriyah made a deal with Oracle Releasing that all of its e-books would be offered for free on the Huriyah website.

“It is very important to us to make sure queer Muslims have access to these books,” said Jama. “Most of our readers live in countries where they can’t buy these books from their local bookstores. Most of them would not even feel comfortable to do so even if they could. A lot of them are going to be familiar with these works, but we also have many readers who joined us in the later years. This will be great for all.”

For more information, contact Maureen Thomas at mthomas@laxagency.com

muslim punk rock on "time" magazine...

2009-12-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

Muslim Punk Rock: A Mashup of Piety and Politics

By Carla Power

When Jimi Hendrix smashed his guitar in the 1960s, it was clear he was attacking the Establishment. When a Muslim punk rocker smashes up a guitar outside an American Muslim convention, the now-standard rock 'n' roll trope gains a few new meanings. These young punks are taking on every establishment going: Muslim, American and Muslim American. "In this so-called war of civilizations, we're giving the finger to both sides," says the godfather of the Muslim punk movement, Michael Muhammad Knight, in Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam, a new documentary by Pakistani-Canadian director Omar Majeed. As a mashup of piety and politics, hard-core music and anarchy, the Muslim punk movement makes the Sex Pistols look like Fleetwood Mac.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1942942,00.html?xid=rss-topstories#ixzz0YgcJwoMe

Syria’s gays, lesbians fight discrimination

2009-11-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

Syria’s gays, lesbians fight discrimination

Law, society treat homosexuals as criminals, outcasts or mentally ill as latters find refuge online.

DAMASCUS - Alaa al-Sayed, 20, is waging a battle for acceptance not just from Syrian society but from his own family since they discovered he is gay.

“It’s so difficult to feel that you are a stranger and an outcast even in your own home,” he said.

When his parents found out about him after he went out with a man one night, they beat him and locked him in at home. Later, they decided to marry him off, he said.

“This is the solution in their opinion. The solution is doing an injustice to a woman for whom I feel no emotional or sexual desire,” he added.

Many gay men and women like Sayed lead a life on the margins of Syrian society, which generally sees them as perverts or mentally ill.

They also suffer from discrimination on the part of the state that considers homosexual acts as “moral offences” punishable by up to three years in prison.

The Syrian penal code prohibits "carnal knowledge against the order of nature", which is mostly used to criminalise sodomy, so lesbians are less liable to be persecuted than gay men.

In addition, unlike gay men, lesbians are less likely to go cruising in parks and on the street where they could be caught by the police.

While most gay people in Syria prefer to hide their sexual tendencies and submit to social norms or lead a double life, more and more say that they are slowly asserting their right to be different.

Some say that they are not afraid to display their sexuality in bars and nightclubs in the way they dress or behave.

For many of them, especially young gay men, the internet has helped them to regroup, create a network of social support, and meet others in similar situations.

“The internet brought a real change to my life,” said Nouhad Ibrahim, a 21 year-old gay man from Damascus studying economics.

“I discovered gay communities from around the world and that made me feel I was not alone in this world.”

Online, Syrian homosexuals can find several dating and chatting websites where they can exchange photos and telephone numbers and sometimes fix dates to meet.

But some gay men are also using the internet as a platform to demand recognition and respect.

A pan-Arab Facebook site aimed at countering the negative stereotypes about homosexuality has more than 400 members including a large presence from Syrian gays.

Members of the group say that they are trying to muster support especially from international organisations to show how gay men can contribute to the development of society and do not have lower intellectual capabilities.

A separate Facebook group called Syrian Gays has 170 members and is used for chatting and meeting partners rather than as a platform for discussions around homosexuality in the country.

But for most gay men, the topic of their homosexuality is still a taboo and so they prefer not to divulge their tendencies in a society that values machismo.

Amir, a 24-year-old gay man who works in his father’s clothing shop in Damascus, said that he had to pretend to be very manly in the way he talked and walked during the day.

Amir, who refused to give his last name, added that at night among his gay friends he felt more relaxed and able to express his “feminine side”.

Syrian gays today say that there are several cafes, bars and nightclubs where they meet in Damascus. Cruising for sexual partners also takes place in certain public squares or gardens during the night.

Gay prostitution is also evident at these sites but many say that the places are monitored by the morality police.

Individuals who are caught by the police engaging in homosexual acts are often rounded up and sent to court where they generally receive a sentence of few months’ imprisonment.

An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the authorities do not recognise gay rights and homosexuality was rejected by Syrian society and culture.

“For gays and lesbians not to be subjected to mistreatment or harassment, they must keep their sexuality concealed,” he said.

Dr Jalal Nawfal, a Damascus-based psychiatrist, said that the authorities were only responding to the social and religious realities of Syria, where homosexuality is strongly rejected.

He added, however, that the government needed to raise awareness about homosexuality.

Although homosexuality is no longer regarded as a psychological disorder in the West, many Syrian psychologists still see gays as mental patients.

Some even say that sexual harassment during childhood plays an important role in determining sexual orientation during adulthood.

Christian and Muslim clerics who have a strong influence over social attitudes in Syria are more severe in judging homosexuality.

According to Mohamad Habash, the head of the Centre for Islamic Studies in Damascus, some Muslim clerics overtly incite the killing of homosexuals.

Other less extreme opinions favour providing gays with social support to help them “overcome their illness”, he added.

The media in Syria also consolidates the negative stereotyping of homosexuals by publicising stories that link gays to criminal acts or sordid incidents.

Last year, for instance, a court sentenced three men to death for killing a diplomatic employee after having sex with him.

Media also reported that a young man died after throwing himself from a balcony in the city of Aleppo to escape two men who wanted to rape him.

Many gays in Syria believe the spreading of similar stories harms their cause.

Written by an IWPR-trained reporter

link: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=35834

when your cab driver is homophobic...

2009-11-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

salam,

a few days ago, it was reported by the new york post that a muslim cab driver named mehdat mohamed kicked out a gay couple (paul bruno and erick ruales) out of his cab after they hugged and kissed as they got in the cab. as they should, ruales and bruno reported the cab driver to the proper officials.

yesterday, they also got a hold of the cab driver who now argues the couple were about to "do it" and that would distract him.

what?

maybe he wasn't be so interested? really, why would gay guys having sex "distract" him? he should have concentrated on his driving instead of worrying about what consenting adults are doing in the back seat.

but the truth of the matter is that this is nothing but a homophobic incident. ruales and bruno are a couple. we all know they could have waited to "do it" in their home minutes later. why would they do that in a cab? it doesn't sound believable.

ugandan bill seeks death penalty for gays

2009-10-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

salam,

a day after president obama signed a hate crime bill into law in the united states, a ugandan parliamentarian named bahati introduced a bill seeking the death penalty for gays:

Uganda's Outrageous New Sex Law

A Ugandan Parliamentarian wants to outlaw homosexuality and prescribe the death penalty for having sex while HIV positive. The worse news is, he might actually get what he wants.

BY MICHAEL WILKERSON | OCTOBER 28, 2009

link: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/28/ugandas_do_ask_do_tell

from turkey: Latest Anti-Gay Surge in Turkey Against Another LGBT Organization

2009-10-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

Latest Anti-Gay Surge in Turkey Against Another LGBT Organization

October 23, 2009
Kaos GL Press Release

Black Pink Triangle Association in Izmir is the fifth LGBT (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender) organization that faces closure threat from the
Turkish government. The first hearing will take place on February 19,
2010. The reason for closure threat is once again being against the law
and morality.

According to the information provided to the association, the Governors
Office of the City of Izmir is demanding closure of the Black Pink
Triangle Association.

Black Pink Triangle Association members stated that: "The prosecutor's
demand for closure of our association is clearly a violation of civil
rights. Establishing an organization a constitutional right and they want
to take that right from us.

When Black Pink Triangle Association was founded on February 20, 2009, all
the necessary legal documentation was filed to the Governors Office.

On May 26, 2009 the association received a notification from Governors
Office requesting the organization to correct some of the mistakes on the
application form. However the Governors Office also demanded correction
of some of the founding statues of Black Pink Triangle Association
claiming that the associations objections are against Turkish "moral
values and family structure.

Although the mistakes in the application form were corrected, the
Association refused to change the statues as per Governors request. They
also stated that Kaos GL (an LGBT organization in Ankara) and Lambda
Istanbul (an LGBT organization in Istanbul) have exact same statues and
after long legal battles they were able to exist as legal and legitimate
institutions.

On October 16, 2009, following the receipt of Black Pink Triangle
Associations response, Governors Office filed a lawsuit against them and
demanded closure of the institution.

Black Pink Triangle Associations lawyer Ceylan Elif Ozsoy stated to Kaos
GL that she found the action disturbing. She also pointed out the similar
actions were taken against Kaos GL, Pink Life and Lambda Istanbul
organizations and they failed.

Turkish authorities have targeted other LGBT organizations in the past as
well:

In September 2005, the Ankara Governors Office accused the Ankara-based
group KAOS-GL of establishing an organization that is against the laws
and principles of morality. Similarly, the Ankara Governors Office
attempted in July 2006 to close the human rights group Pembe Hayat (Pink
Life), which works with transgender people, claiming to prosecutors that
the association opposed morality and family structure. In both cases,
prosecutors dropped the charges.

In December 2006, the Ankara-based editor of Kaos GL, Turkey's only
magazine for LGBT people, 29-year-old gay activist Umut Guner, was
indicted under a vague statute banning "obscene" material, and faced up to
three years in prison. Authorities seized the magazine's entire press run.
Guner was acquitted later.

In another series of legal attacks on LGBT organizations and publications
in Turkey, on May 29, 2008 a court in Istanbul, the nation's largest city,
ordered the dissolution of Lambda Istanbul. Founded in 1993, the group is
Turkey's oldest LGBT organization, and has organized Gay Pride marches in
that city every year since 2003. On January 2009, the 7th Judicial Office
of the Supreme Court of Appeals has overturned the ruling of Istanbuls
3rd Civil Court of First Instance, which had decided to close down the
Lambda Istanbul Association for a violation of general morals.

--
Kaos GL is a LGBT organization and a legally registered non-governmental
organization that publishes a bi-monthly magazine to completely cover
Turkey. Please refer any questions to: news@kaosgl.com and refer to the
web site for information: http://news.kaosgl.com/

Stop using Israel as a shield

2009-10-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

salam,

haaretz published a reponse to an article they published a week or so ago.

afdhere

Stop using Israel as a shield

By Afdhere Jama

Haaretz recently published an article about queer issues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories ("Stop using Palestinian gays to whitewash Israel's image," October 7). The piece, by Morten Berthelsen, was a long interview with Haneen Maikey, an Israeli Arab and lesbian activist, who is very critical of Israel's treatment of gays and lesbians. But by insisting that there is nothing for Arabs or Muslims to learn or adopt from Israel, Maikey almost comes off as if she's defending the homophobia in Palestinian society, if not blaming the problem on Israel altogether.

The idea that "others" are somehow behind the extreme homophobia in our communities is something one encounters often in the Arab and Muslim world. I myself encountered this attitude repeatedly during research for my recent book on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) lives in the Muslim world. Such an approach does little to help gays and lesbians, who face threats that can range from harassment to capital punishment. But until Muslim and Arab activists learn to admit that homophobia is a problem in our societies, and one for which we bear the responsibility, things are just not going to change. Only after one accepts the facts is it possible to move on to the next step. And the fact is that homophobia has been a problem in Arab and Muslim societies since long before Israel was created or the West colonized us - or whatever other "foreign" entity folks decide to blame, on any given Friday. When an Israeli Arab gay woman blames the occupation for the hatred of queers in Palestinian society, that is equivalent to declaring the baseless homophobic notion that homosexuality itself was introduced into the region by Israel or the West.

Beyond that, the article seemed to be using Israeli society's purported homophobia - including the claim that court rulings in favor of gay people's rights have benefited only a handful of people, and mention of August's fatal attack on a clubhouse for young gay people in Tel Aviv - to support the argument that Israel is "just as bad" as the rest of the Middle East for gays. Anyone familiar with queer issues in the Middle East can appreciate the silliness of such an idea. I would like to tackle the most horrific example cited: the shooting in Tel Aviv, which left two dead and wounded some 15 bystanders. Many years ago, while traveling in Israel, I met a Jewish woman who had immigrated from the United States and had been injured in a suicide bombing. I asked her why she would choose to leave the safety of the United States for a country that's in a constant state of conflict. She responded with words that truly changed my understanding of Israel and of Jews' relationship to it. She said: "It is a privilege to be injured or even killed in a Jewish state."

For a gay person in a country like Israel, in a region like the Middle East, with its historically conservative religions and societies, as horrific as violence is, one could similarly say that it is a privilege to be shot in a gay social center. The very fact that there are such centers to visit is a privilege. In most other countries in the Middle East, there aren't any social centers for gays.

Likewise, it is a privilege to be able to challenge discrimination in the courts. There isn't any country in the Arab world where one can take on homophobia via the legal system. In fact, in most Arab countries such action would truly compromise your personal safety, and endanger the very lives of the people you are trying to defend.

So, when a gay woman in Israel declares that "there are no gay rights in Israel" - from the office of the gay organization that she heads, and in the knowledge that she enjoys the legal rights and protections enshrined in that country's legal system - one can appreciate the stark similarity to the hypocritical denials of leaders from Arab and Muslim countries, who declare with a straight face that there are no gays in their states.

Regardless of how people feel about the occupation, or about Israel in general, it helps to focus on the reality and the facts. If we are going to change the homophobic attitudes in our societies, we have to stop using others as a shield. Otherwise, our hypocrisy will spit in the face of our own struggles, and ultimately serve only to increase homophobia.

Afdhere Jama is the author of "Illegal Citizens: Queer Lives in the Muslim World" (Salaam Press). He is based in San Francisco.

link to my piece: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121552.html

link to the original piece: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1118197.html

Muslim footballers agree to play gay team

2009-10-13T06:57:00.001-07:00

Muslim footballers agree to play gay team

Agence France-Presse

October 10, 2009 09:49pm

A MAINLY Muslim non-league French side said they could take on rivals consisting of gay players after all, four days after snubbing them in what the former on Saturday insisted was a "misunderstanding".

Paris Foot Gay (PFG) were set to play fellow Creteil side Bebel, who are composed of mainly Muslim players last week but Bebel cried off a day beforehand, sending an email in which they regretted they could not honour the match as doing so was "against their principles".

more: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26193649-23109,00.html

Inayat Bunglawala: Gay Muslims need support

2009-10-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

salam,

this is from the guardian. it is written by uk muslim council's inayat bunglawala. very interesting, indeed. gay muslims definitely need support.

- afdhere

***

Gay Muslims need support

Discrimination based on sexuality is as wrong as that based on religion. The Muslim Council of Great Britain can take a lead

more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/oct/05/gay-muslims-support

Turkish man tried in absentia for 'honour killing' of gay son

2009-09-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Turkish man tried in absentia for 'honour killing' of gay son

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • September 9, 2009 - 16:21

A Turkish man accused of killing his gay son has gone on trial this week in Istanbul.

Yahya Yildiz, 49, is on the run and is being tried in absentia for the crime of shooting his son Ahmet, 26, dead in June last year. Another man, thought to be a local resident, was also injured, reports news agency Sapa-dpa.

more: pink news (uk)

the protest of toronto festival over tel aviv films focus

2009-09-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

salam, friends,

a group of artists are protesting a week long celebration of tel aviv cinema at the tiff (toronto international film festival).

i personally don't subscribe to the idea of punishing israeli (arab and jewish and of other faiths) artists for the purpose of highlighting the govt of israel's actions. i think that is counterproductive to the art that comes out of israel, some of which have been very critical of israel. we ought to learn to separate israel from jews, and isrealis from israel, and so on.

i invite folks to read the artists' message: http://torontodeclaration.blogspot.com/

as well as cameron bailey's (from tiff) message: http://tinyurl.com/baileytiff

caravan786: designers with a message...

2009-09-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

there is a new -- dare i say, against their wishes -- fashion label in town. it is called "caravan786" and their moto? a sufi saying, "the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on!"

the label, which is designed by a pair of sufis called rahal x and dounya souzani, is a true fair trade production. a lot of their stuff is traditionally hand embroidered and trailed in morocco, while the rest are dyed by women in mauritania and then (wax resist) block printed.

the clothes themselves are of rich quality, many of them recreated. but the most awesome thing about their collection is the message they embody. it is all about peace. peace signs, peaceful words... some of the items, for example, feature "peace" in arabic, hebrew, and english... in perfect harmony. and 786 appears in most of everything. and if you don't know by now, 786 is the sufi tradition of numerating the "bismillah al-rahman al-rahim".

anyway, you can learn more about this cool idea by visiting their website: caravan786.com

by the way, rahal x is a queer muslim of the sufi tradition. dounya is an straight ally to the community.

firing ramadan right before the ramadan :)

2009-08-21T01:21:00.001-07:00

salam, friends,

the city of rotterdam in the netherlands has fired its in-house muslim "integrator", tariq ramadan. the decision follows after the scandal that ramadan works for the iranian regime via its worldwide funded tv called presstv. the nrc.nl article discusses this. in the meantime, afshin ellian has penned a critical opinion piece. a day later, tariq ramadan penned his own opinion piece in the same paper.

mr. ramadan is definitely one to watch out for. he is a very charismatic man who claims to bear progressive thoughts, but he is far more of an islamist than he would ever be willing to admit.

Iraqi LGBT welcome Human Rights Watch report on pogrom, urges practical aid

2009-08-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

salam, friends,

from the iraqi lgbt group in london.

afdhere

#

Iraqi LGBT welcome Human Rights Watch report on pogrom, urges practical aid

The Iraqi LGBT group today welcomed the release by Human Rights Watch of its report 'They want us exterminated' which documents the killing of LGBT people in Iraq, in particular the extensive media coverage it has generated. Much of the information in the report is sourced from Iraqi LGBT members.

"This report underlines what we have been saying since our group's formation in 2006," said Iraqi LGBT spokesperson, Ali Hili. "We have information on over 700 killings including honour killings."

However Hili says that the group, which has 100 members inside Iraq (as well as refugees in neighboring countries) and supports LGBT people through safe houses, offers practical support (food etc.), psychological and educational support, is chronically underfunded.

"We are the only people offering support to our fellow Iraqi LGBT inside Iraq but because we do not have the funds we have had to turn people away," he said.

The group recently published its annual report, available on its website, which showed how the money it receives is spent.

The report explains how it has developed methods of operating clandestinely which are essential for such an operation in the Middle East. Hili is the only visible member of the group and as a result has attracted death threats in his exile in London. He is under police protection.

Recently it received a second substantial donation from a Dutch group. However due to low funding it has had to close safe houses and slow its development plans.

At the same time it has seen very large amounts of money raised in the United States go to a Lebanese group which is supposed to be supporting Iraqi LGBT refugees. Ali says that the refugees, delivered to Lebanon by Human Rights Watch, have in fact been abandoned and some have returned to Iraq because they had no practical support.

"We have been trying to support one refugee who returned to Iraq from Lebanon because his medical needs were not being supported and who is now in danger. Through the United Nations, he has actually been accepted as a refugee by Sweden however it costs $2000 just for him to get back to Lebanon and then there are his travel costs to Sweden on top of that plus organising support in Sweden."

"This is an example of a case where we have great difficulty helping. It also shows something of the real costs involved in actually supporting people. Another example of that would be the bribes we have had to pay to save peoples lives."

"Our group represents Iraqi LGBT - they are our members - and, despite immense difficulties, our group has gained a lot of experience since we were established. Please support us if you want to help save LGBT people in Iraq."

Donations to Iraqi LGBT can be made to the PayPal Account iraqilgbt@yahoo.co.uk .

Or make cheques payable to (IRAQI LGBT) and send them to:

Iraqi LGBT
22 Notting Hill Gate
Unit 111London,
W11 3JE
United Kingdom

For further information please call ++44 (0) 79-819 59453 or email iraqilgbt@googlemail.com or see http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com

Ali said that the group also welcomed those who could donate their skills.

pro-gay marriage Muslim delegate stirs conservatives

2009-08-12T09:51:00.001-07:00

In 2007, Saqib Ali became the first Muslim elected to the Maryland state legislature. But Ali made headlines again this year in July, after his Op-ed supporting same sex marriage was published in a local newspaper. The piece gained him support among gay rights groups, but also stirred his conservative base and relatives against him. Ali talks about his decision, his role as a public servant and the separation between religious beliefs and public policy.

link: 89.3 kpcc (read, listen, and download!)

hijab: unveiling queer muslim lives

2009-08-06T11:30:00.001-07:00

salam, friends,

here is info about a new book being published out of south africa:

Dear Colleagues, friends & Others

Book Launch: Hijab: Unveiling Queer Muslim Lives

The Inner Circle is launching its book on the 14 August 2009 at 18H30 for 19H00 at the Centre for the Book, in Queen Victoria Road, Cape Town. This is a social history project that presents a voice that has been silent for too long; it addresses issues of Islam and sexual (and gender) diversity, more specifically queer Muslims. This has been a sweat equity project, whereby with limited funding, we have brought it to fruition.

Please RSVP to 021 761 0037 OR reception@theinnerc ircle.org. za in order for us to arrange catering.

Hoping to see you at the launch!!!

Please forward to your contacts!!!

Hijab: Unveiling Queer Muslim Lives is a groundbreaking anthology of queer Muslim stories. This aptly titled book represents a set of voices from various backgrounds and generations whose stories are true. It explores and addresses, through these personal accounts, the fear and isolation of being queer and Muslim as well as the triumphs despite a largely homophobic society. In almost all of these pieces one sees the difficulties queer Muslims journey through in order to reconcile their sexuality with their spirituality.

Any compassionate human being would be deeply moved by the way that truth and individuality is embraced in every single story. It is thought provoking and often heartbreaking. It touches you and its words will get under your skin. Hijab speaks to and should be required reading for every parent, teacher, religious leader & politician as it shows all of us how important it is that we be more attentive, tolerant & accepting to aspects of difference in religion, race, ethnicity and sexuality.

I highly recommend this selection of heart-rending stories to anyone with a personal interest – or quite simply, to anyone who cares.

Mariam Ismail-Baderoon (Educationist)

What's it like being a gay Muslim?

2009-07-29T12:13:00.001-07:00

EastEnders' current romantic storyline featuring a gay Muslim character has caused a stir. But what is it really like to be gay within Britain's Muslim communities?

link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/29/gay-muslims-britain

the new "qowmu lut"?

2009-07-18T00:26:00.001-07:00

salam, friends,

one thing queer muslims always encounter is that we are accused of practicing the lewd acts of the people of lut. but we all know the people of lut were more interested in power and abuse, rather than love and connecting with other human beings. here is a story about how al-qaeda is using male rape in order to gain power over young men. by raping them, they shame them... making them more susceptible to their bidding:

***

Al Qaeda Accused of Using Male Rape to Recruit Suicide Bombers

According to Algerian militant Abu Bacir El Assimi, Islamic terrorists rape young men as a means of recruitment for suicide bombings. Rape creates a social stigma and fear, according to reports, that leave Muslims prepared to die.

The Sun quotes Algerian militant Abu Baçir El Assimi as saying, "The sexual act on young recruits aged between 16 to 19 was a means to urge them to commit suicide operations."

more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/275122

the book edited by michael luongo gets an interesting title...

2009-07-14T17:10:00.001-07:00

the arabic title of the collection of gay travel stories edited by michael lungo is: "رحلات شاذ إلى العالم الإسلامي"/ lit: "freak travels to the islamic world." it is published by the arab duffision company, a publisher based out of beirut, lebanon. it should be noted that the word "sh`dt" actually is the equivalent of "queer," and is the one that is mostly used in the arab world to describe queer people.

oddly enough, i was reading a story from syria before i read the article from advocate (see: book translation: "gay" equals "pervert"). the article from syria had a title that says; "anaa sh`dt"... or "i'm queer". and it dealt with the story of a gay man who is definitely like many young gay arabs who refuse to face the music (the story, from the state owned syrian news, can be found here: anaa sh`dt). therefore, this is a widely used word.

i would have rather they used the word "مثلي"/"mithlee", which literally means "same" (i.e, same-sex). but it is so nice that there is an arabic translation to this great book that one might even overlook the crude word. i would be more interested to know what the content of the book itself is like... rather than the title, though.

- afdhere jama
the huriyah editor

where is their money? iraqi lgbt group submits some accounting

2009-07-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

salam, friends,

in the past couple of days, two articles were published in gay papers challenging the accounting status of iraqi lgbt, which is a non-registered ngo based out of london. the articles challenged the group, accusing them of perhaps misusing the (western) donated monies to help iraqis. well, the group has now officially submitted some interim accounting.

it should be noted this group has run safe houses in iraq and elsewhere, and helped people escape the dire situation there. also, because they are not legally registered group, there is no need for them to provide any information at all!

but, in good faith, they have submitted some info here:

Media release

For immediate use

Iraqi LGBT to apply for charitable status, provides interim accounts

10 July 2009

The Iraqi LGBT organisation has today provided interim accounts for its Syria operations (see below) and announced that it will resubmit an application for charitable status.

Based in the UK, the group works to aid lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people within Iraq as well as many who have fled for exile in nearby countries. It runs a 'safe house' in Baghdad, Iraq, where 20 LGBT people are currently housed and where previously 70 people have stayed for various periods.

The safe house will be featured in a documentary on BBC Radio this Sunday. It includes interviews with the person who runs it as well as some of those who live there.

Since it was founded Iraqi LGBT has provided safety for over 100 people, including supporting 70 people financially. It has provided support for 23 people outside Iraq including shelter, medication and food.

The reapplication for charitable status follows a change in the group's aims which removed working the requirement to work for change in Iraqi law, which resulted in a previous rejection by the UK's Charity Commission as this was regarded as 'political'. It also follows the work of the group's volunteer accountant on preparing accounts to meet charity commissioners’ standards. In addition the group has become a Company limited by guarantee (No. 06954355).

Iraqi LGBT’s accountant Josh Botham ATT ACPA ACCA IIT[dip] explained that - like others such as Amnesty International - the group has had to use circuitous routes in order to get funds to exiles, as well as pay bribes in order to secure release of people under real threat of death.

Botham said that as part of the application the group would publish full accounts on its website shortly.

Funding for the group in the past has come from the group's own members and donations including one in 2008 from the US Representative Jared Polis. He donated $10,000 (£6,853) via the Heartland Alliance to aid the project in Syria.

Polis' funding went to the Chicago based LGBT group Heartland Alliance to provide for five people to be moved from Iraq to Syria and to provide housing rent, food and other basic needs in Syria. This project ran between 1 June and 31 December 2008. Included in the cost was the living accommodation for the local administrator of the group.

Botham said that: "Providing the financial support involved a difficult money transfer process in order to avoid coming to the attention of Syrian authorities. Such an operation also meant that in order to safeguard the lives of these refugees, people were only informed on a need to know basis."

"Heartland Alliance [as grant provider] however insisted that our group should meet up with the Lebanese LGBT group, Helem, in November 2008, at that same time that some prominent members of Heartland Alliance visited Syria."

"The result was disastrous for our group, Iraqi LGBT. Some of our members were arrested by Syrian police in Damascas in (which city). With the help of a local lawyer, Iraqi LGBT managed to get these people released. However one of them was later to be deported back to Iraq."

Iraqi LGBT has experienced other difficulties in coordinating activities with Heartland Alliance. Another grant of $10,000 meant for Iraqi LGBT came to the group from the Elisabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust, based in Chicago. Botham gave them a budget of how to allocate this money.

However communications broke down with the Heartland Alliance's representative when it was claimed that the last transfer of $4,000 had never been received by our sources in Iraq. Says Botham: “This underlines the perils of where we are working and who we are working with."

"Iraqi LGBT has supported another nine Iraqi refugees in Syria, as well as a safe house in Iraq and has had to spend money on freeing people from custody. Obviously in such situations one doesn't get a receipt."

"Between 1 June 2008 to 31 May 2009, the Polis supported project represented one sixth of the group's expenditure. Just under a quarter of the group's funding actually came from the group's founder, Ali Hili, his family and his partner."

Iraqi LGBT Chair Ali Hilli added: "We are confident that the charitable status will be accepted and will be a great help for the group. As we have been reporting for several years now, our people in Iraq are being killed and we desperately need more financial support to save them and where necessary move them out of Iraq."

"This work is dangerous and threatening. Even in London I am under real threat and have been forced to move as a result."

Donations for Iraqi LGBT can be made via PayPal. See the group's website at http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com for details.

ATTACHMENT

Syria underground Railroad Project

Covering the period from 1 June 2008 to 31 May 2009

Figures in US dollars

Total funding received from Heartland Alliance	$15,520
Expenditure
Telephone cards and other means of communication	$413
Basic food and supplies	$486
Travel costs including passports and visa’s (for 5 people, from Bagdad to Damascus by road)	$3,000
Legal fees (to prevent an individual from being imprisoned in Iraq)	$4,000
Rent (Damascus)	$7,000
Transportation costs (inside Syria to move nine Iraqi LGBT refugees when necessary to another safe house)	$413
Other costs	$208
Total	$15,218
Balance left	$2

Iraqi LGBT expenditure in Syria

In addition to the funding received from Heartland Alliance, Iraqi LGBT from its own resources has supported another nine Iraqi LGBT refugees who had already made there own way to Syria.

The Heartland Alliance would not allow us to include the cost of transferring the money as part of their donation. We paid for it ourselves and we have therefore listed this bank fee under our own expenditure

Figures in pounds sterling

Covering the period from 1 June 2008 – 31 May 2009

Rent, food and other amenities like electricity ( For two safe houses including any bribes paid.)	£8,731
Communication (mobile phones, phone cards, internet etc)	£95
Bank charges	£415
Total	£9,241

ENDS

Ali Hili - Iraqi Lgbt - Chair

22 Notting Hill Gate

Unit # 111

London , W11 3JE

United Kingdom

Mob: ++44 798 1959 453

Website : http://iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com/

somali kids, adult gays exchange hateful messages

2009-07-09T13:23:00.000-07:00

salam, friends,

in the past couple of days, i had received many e-mails containing the same
link. it is about somali kids in minnesota harassing a gay man after pride.

here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfW9inRkTpU

what hasn't been forwarded to me was the swift condemnation of these kids'
behavior by somali community leaders.

here is the link:
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/01/youtube_harassment/

there is no justification whatsoever for what these kids have done. it is
horrible to do what they have done. but it is interesting to note all the
horrible things said against muslims just because of what these kids have done.
imho, what adults say in response to these kids is far more disturbing than what
some kids could ever say. note how black people, muslim people, and somali
people, immigrants, etc, are all lumped together in hate for the behavior of a
dozen kids.

see this link, for example, from a respected gay website:

http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid94769.asp

interesting, ain't it?

afdhere

a jihad for love

2009-06-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

this is a very moving film. buy it today.

- afdhere

gay, muslim and coming out to mom and dad

2009-03-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

Out of the Closet, at Gunpoint

I thought I'd never tell my Muslim parents that I'm gay. Then a terrifying encounter gave me no choice.

By Shariq Mahbub | NEWSWEEK

Published Mar 21, 2009"

link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/190469

a muslim comments on the hope of lgbt muslims

2008-04-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hope exists for LGBT Muslims

Junaid Jahanagir, Opinion Writer Wednesday, 2 April
2008

Edmonton, despite Alberta’s redneck fame, is home to
both the oldest North American mosque and the first
North American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
(LGBT)youth camp. Both the Pride Centre and Muslim
Community act to support their respective members;
however, it’s nearly impossible to bring elements of
both together owing to intransigence on the Muslim
side, the limited resources of the LGBT, and the
unwillingness of Muslim LGBT to reconcile the
diametrically opposed facets of their existence.

- more: thegatewayonline.ca

gay iranian teen loses asylum

2008-03-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

yes we can !

2008-02-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

video: imam daayiee - on his first love...

2008-01-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

in this clip from the documentary, imam daayiee discusses his first homosexual relationship:

video: plastic plate, gay arab man with hiv...

2007-12-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

algerian film tackles prostitution, homosexuality...

2007-12-13T17:18:00.000-08:00

Algerian film tackles prostitution, homosexuality

ALGIERS (Ramadan Belamry, AlArabiya.net)

A new government-funded movie about prostitution and homosexuality, in which a well-known actress takes on the role of a shrewd madam, has stirred controversy in the conservative Algerian society.

- read more: al arabiya

video: allah ho gaybar

2007-12-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

iranian artist, sooreh hera, created a video to showcase her protest against religion's homophobia. it heavily deals with islamic homophobia but also includes jewish and chrsitian. to watch, just click on the link:

http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/33434/98ff6c9b/allah_ho_gaybar.html

Iran: Young Man Executed for Alleged Sex Crime

2007-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Date: December 5, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC Communications Coordinator, 212-430-6016

(New York, Wednesday December 5, 2007) - The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has learned today that despite an order by the Iranian Chief Justice to nullify his death sentence, Mr. Makvan Mouloodzadeh was executed in Kermanshah Central Prison at 5 a.m. this morning, Iranian time. Neither Mr. Mouloodzadeh's family or his lawyer were told about the execution until after it occurred. IGLHRC is still investigating the facts in this case.

-- read the rest, here: iglhrc website

pic: fatma souad, of gayhane berlin ...

2007-12-02T23:11:00.000-08:00

video: indian lesbians, from "girlfriends"

2007-12-02T23:01:00.000-08:00

pic: madhuri dixit is back: "aaja nachle" ...

2007-11-30T03:02:00.000-08:00

video: lebanese belly dancer... in paris ...

2007-11-30T02:49:00.000-08:00

venezia e l'islam: 828 - 1797

2007-11-18T23:58:00.000-08:00

(click on the pic to enlarge)

venezia el'islam or "venice and islam" is some sort of a conference at the doge's palace in venice. who knew islam had so much influence over venice, and for so long?

iglhrc intervenes...

2007-11-10T02:38:00.000-08:00

IGLHRC Intervenes To Halt Execution Of Child Convicted Of Sodomy in Iran

By Dennis McMillan, Published: November 8, 2007

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has learned that Makvan Mouloodzadeh, a 21-year old citizen of Iran of Kurdish origin from the city of Paveh in the Western province of Kermanshah, has been sentenced to death by the government. Makvan has been convicted of multiple counts of anal rape and sentenced to execution for crimes committed when he was 13 years old. On Nov. 5, IGLHRC called for an international response to stop this execution.

more: sf bay times

arabic, the gayest language in the world ... ?

2007-11-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

what?!?!?!?!?!? when?!?!?!?!?!? how?!?!?!?!?!?

get this: according to google, arabic is #1 in languages where the word sex is searched for. and, arabic and is 2nd (to english) for gay sex. oddly enough, arabic is the 3rd language for searches related to islam.

think about it ;-)

is it wrong to have qur'anic ringtones... ?

2007-11-10T02:08:00.000-08:00

Saudi scholars in stormy debate over Koran ringtones

By AFP

A top Islamic body in Saudi Arabia has hosted a stormy debate on controversial issues, including the use of Koranic verses as mobile phone ringtones, newspapers reported Monday.

- more: m.e. times

uganda: leader wants gays exiled ...

2007-10-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

"Muslim leader wants gays exiled from Uganda

15th October 2007 14:53

PinkNews.co.uk writer

The leading Muslim cleric in Uganda, Sheikh Ramathan Shaban Mubajje, has come up with a novel solution to deal with gay and lesbians speaking up in the country.

He told journalists at a press conference on Friday that he had recommended to the country's President at a meeting last week that all gay people should be sent into exile on an island in Lake Victoria.

"If they die there then we shall have no more homosexuals in the country," he added."

- more at: pink news...

parvez sharma... on "the hour" ...

2007-10-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

arsham parsi, gay iranian, responds to ahmadinejad...

2007-10-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

one million voices... to end the conflict... in the middle east...

2007-10-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

pic: sami bouajila

2007-07-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

this is algerian french actor, sami bouajila...

article: salaam toronto at the pride...

2007-07-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

For the love of Allah

Gay Muslims' Pride prayer

By EL-FAROUK KHAKI

Bronxville, New York -- I am tingling; my heart is beating fast as I lead the Maghrib (sunset) prayer here at a Sarah Lawrence College hall at the very first conference of Muslims for Progressive Values, June 17.

It's such an honour, I'm thinking, to pray with this group of people, because they all speak with such passion of their faith, though they come from different races and experiences."

- read more: now toronto magazine

the secret...

2007-06-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

watch this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l3HL-nvKuA

it is about the secret-- a revolutionary way of getting "everything" you want. all you have to do is think it :-)

website: http://thesecret.tv/

gay marriage...

2007-05-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

a very cool slide by yahoo news, click here: gay marriage

salif keita, cesária evora; yamore

2007-05-29T22:37:00.000-07:00

bloody rally in moscow...

2007-05-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

"British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell is interviewed by a Reuters correspondent in Moscow May 28, 2007. Tatchell, who was among demonstrators calling for the right to hold a Gay Pride parade in central Moscow on Sunday, was knocked to the ground and kicked twice. When he got up he was punched in the face again and taken away by two riot policemen. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA) "

interview with cameron alborzian...

2007-05-29T22:16:00.001-07:00

there is a cool interview of cameron alborzian in the persian mirror.

ifti nasim documentary...

2007-05-26T21:38:00.000-07:00

this is a cool short documentary on ifti nasim, the author of myrmecophile and other great poetry books, on the bbc website. nasim is the first queer pakistani whose literature has been published in his mother tongue (urdu).

the best 2 minutes on american television...

2007-05-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

it is from "uggly betty."

new book: straightening ali...

2007-04-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

STARbooks Press explores homosexuality in a Pakistani/British Islamic community with STRAIGHTENING ALI by AMJEED KABIL.

For Ali Mirza, a young British born Pakistani man, life takes a sudden dramatic turn when his family arranges for him to get married even though he has told them he is gay. How will he survive his wedding night when he's not even turned on by his new bride, whom he has only met once and for five minutes? Sajda, his wife, claims she is in love with him, but she does not even know him. For Ali, this is the tip of the iceberg as his boyfriend has moved to France and is hesitant to support Ali. What is Ali to do? Should he run away to join the love of his life, or should he stay and live the life that has been arranged for him by his family? If he does run, will they find him and force him to be straight? Will he ever reunite with his lover? Ali must decide what is best for him and does in a matter of days in STRAIGHTENING ALI.

STRAIGHTENING ALI is a must read for anyone who has lived in or is curious about a society where arranged marriages are the norm and gays are brutalized for who they are. A riveting story about family ties, conflicting cultures and the basic dynamics of human relationships, STRAIGHTENING ALI opens one's eyes to a world we know little about.

pic: brazilian models

2007-04-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

danish muslim parliament woman... ?

2007-04-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

yes, that is a muslim woman named asma abdol-hamid. she wants to become an mp in denmark. when asked about gays, she said that she is "unconcerned with whatever sexual or ethnic background people have. We have a constitution in Denmark and it will be upheld."

- read more: washingtonpost.com

news: gay writer returned to iran...

2007-04-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

Gay Iranian Writer and Activist Seeking Refugee Status Returned to Iran by Turkish Police
04.20.07

An urgent appeal on behalf of a courageous Iranian gay activist and writer who was deported back to Iran from Turkey two weeks ago was made Wednesday night by the Canadian-based Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO).

- more: 247gay.com

pic: actress michelle yeoh

2007-04-10T09:57:00.001-07:00

texting for love...

2007-04-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

this is so amazing...

Dreamed up phone number leads man to a bride Mon Apr 9, 10:09 AM ET

A British man has met and married a 22-year-old woman after, by his own account, dreaming of her phone number and then sending her a text message.

David Brown, 24, says he woke up one morning after a night out with friends with a telephone number constantly running through his head. He decided to contact it, sending a message saying "Did I meet you last night?."

Random recipient Michelle Kitson was confused and wary at first but decided to reply and the two began exchanging messages. Eventually they met and fell in love.

"It was really weird but I was absolutely hooked," Kitson told the Daily Mail newspaper. "My mum and dad kept saying 'But he could be an axe murderer', but I knew there was something special about it."

After a long courtship, the oddly matched couple -- he's six foot seven inches tall and she's five foot four -- have just returned from their honeymoon in the Indian resort of Goa.

A love-struck Brown said: "I've no idea how I ended up with her number in my head -- it's only a few digits different from mine."

pic: pop singer mario vazquez

2007-03-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

video: "out in iran" from the canadian cbc

2007-03-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

video: suheir hammad, poetry

2007-03-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

dr. ghazala anwar shocks pakistan...

2007-02-04T06:50:00.000-08:00

NZ scholar's sex views shock in PakistanNZPA Saturday, 3 February 2007

A senior New Zealand scholar's outspoken views on therights of homosexuals and other sexual minoritiesunder Islam has apparently cost her a top job inPakistan.

- read more at: the nz stuff

people power: israelis & palestinians ...

2007-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

from the "onevoice movement," a cool short documentary that shows the world a different picture.

very nice, especially where they speak arabic andhebrew-- to reach out to those who do not particularlyunderstand the english language, etc.

video: piya tu ab to aaja...

2007-01-31T00:53:00.000-08:00

bollywood actress helen (who is famous for that other song from "sholay") performs this sensual 1970s song (by asha bhosle)... on the screen, in the cabaret film "caravaan"

pic: lebanese model, tareq hijazi

2007-01-31T00:42:00.000-08:00

lend support, save the world...

2007-01-29T23:57:00.000-08:00

pic: malaysian supermodel, kavita kaur...

2007-01-22T06:40:00.000-08:00

she wore the most expensive dress-- with diamonds on it that was worth more than $5m. now, that is a *super* model...