Allah Made Me Muslim; Allah Made Me Queer
Co-authored by Terna and Andrew Stehlik

“I didn’t know there was such a thing as a queer Muslim.”

Even among the most progressive, well-educated and best-intentioned individuals, this is a comment which is heard far too often. People who have no trouble understanding that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people have existed throughout history, in every nation, culture, religion and ethnicity, still have trouble accepting someone can be both queer and a faithful believer in Islam.

Admittedly, some confusion is understandable, as the Muslim record for tolerance is not commendable. On the contrary, Sharia, which is the most orthodox form of Islamic law, can be evoked to issue a death penalty for practicing homosexuals in Muslim countries such as Iran, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. And, in 2011, when the Human Rights Council of the United Nations passed its first-ever resolution recognizing LGBTQ rights, it gained full support from the Americas and Europe, but was almost unanimously voted against by countries with a Muslim majority.

Nonetheless, there are queer Muslims, and in growing numbers they are making themselves known. The annual celebration of Ramadan (which began on June 17) coincides with Gay Pride Month this year, providing a unique opportunity to consider the current state of LGBTQ Muslims, as well as their likely future.

Why is this? Because Ramadan, which according to Islamic tradition, honors the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, is not only commemorated through fasting from dawn to sunset, but is also a time known for great acts of kindness towards the neediest. Charity is very important to Islam year-round, but it is believed that good deeds performed during Ramadan are looked upon by Allah (God) with special favor.

While it takes discipline to keep one’s mouth shut and forgo all food and drink for many hours a day, it also requires bravery to open one’s mouth wide and speak up with compassion and charity for the rights of all human beings to be whole. This is what we’re attempting to do with “Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love,” a storytelling performance which has been shared on stages across the United States, and will appear at Rutgers Presbyterian Church in New York City on Wednesday, June 24.

The show’s title is deliberately ambiguous. It suggests both the self-revelation which occurs in publicly declaring one’s queer sexuality, as well as the challenges of being open about one’s faith in Islam in a post-9/11 America, where fears and suspicions linger that all Muslims are terrorists. As recently reported in The New Yorker magazine, statistics from the F.B.I. show that hate crimes against Muslims are five times as common as they were before 2001. Given this environment, it is exponentially more dangerous to proclaim, “Allah made me Muslim; Allah made me queer.”

In making such a courageous assertion, LGBTQ Muslims are becoming more visible at the intersection of faith and sexuality, joining conversations which have been underway for quite some time within Christianity and Judaism. What these three faiths have in common, of course, is not only an Abrahamic tradition but a homophobia based in large part on a single scriptural story, that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

More modern Muslim scholars, along with freer-thinking Jewish and Christian theologians, advocate interpretations indicating that the true offense shown in the story of Lot is a threat of male rape, and a violent failure to show hospitality to strangers. New attention is being paid as well to verses in the Quran which non-judgmentally describe the existence of men who have no desire for women. And, some historians now point out that in earlier Islamic societies, same-sex relationships were celebrated in love poems written by Persian, Urdu and Sufi poets.

As for those contemporary Muslims who now choose to find a rationale for the death penalty against homosexuality in the hadith, or non-Quranic stories that are attributed to Prophet Muhammad, it must be remembered there is also a hadith where the Prophet says, if anything you have heard about me makes you turn away from me, it is not from me. Violence against sexual and gender minorities is not aligned with the Prophet’s example of love and tolerance in community.

Most Americans, many Muslims, and a lot of LGBTQ people do not know that Islam has room for all of us. And, there may be quite a few who, even after hearing so, will respond, “Well, all this is unique to queer Muslims, what does this have to do with me?”

Our answer is, a lot. Because we believe that the more specific a story is, the more universal.

“Coming Out Muslim” speaks to the universal wish to be recognized as multi-layered individuals, who are parts of families and communities, who struggle and strive for wholeness. Time and time again, people come up to us after performances — men, women, heterosexuals, gays and lesbians, Christians and atheists — and tell us exactly this.

Coming out, then, is really about letting the world know who you are. So, yes, there are queer Muslims!

By taking pride in this, change can occur, and love can grow.

Terna, photographed by Patrick Mulcahy Photography

Also on HuffPost:

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/wazina-zondon/allah-made-me-muslim-allah-made-me-queer_b_7640368.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Gay and Straight Love Affairs Take Center Stage in Tove Lo’s ‘Timebomb’ Video

“I couldn’t decide if you were the most annoying human being I’d ever met or just the best thing that ever happened,” sings Tove Lo in her new single ‘Timebomb’.

Several gay and straight couples dutifully act out that sentiment in a just-released video for the track, making up and breaking up on a simple beach set under a hazy sun.

The Swedish singer, who attended school with Icona Pop  at the same music academy which also educated Robyn, today announced a North American tour starting this fall.

The post Gay and Straight Love Affairs Take Center Stage in Tove Lo’s ‘Timebomb’ Video appeared first on Towleroad.

Andy Towle

Gay and Straight Love Affairs Take Center Stage in Tove Lo’s ‘Timebomb’ Video

New at This Year's New York State Fair: Pride!

It’s a sign of how far lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people have come in the Empire State.

read more

Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/pride/2015/06/22/new-years-new-york-state-fair-pride

My Transgender Life: Where Do the Children Play?

I know we’ve come a long way
We’re changing day to day
But tell me, where do the children play?
– Cat Stevens

It was early Friday morning as I entered my car and held down the home button on my phone. The familiar message “What can I help you with?’ appeared, and I spoke into it, “Directions to ESPN, Bristol Connecticut.” The day’s adventure had begun.

I met Stephen Alexander a little over a month ago and he graciously invited me to attend a panel discussion he was going to be on at ESPN on Transgender athletes. I was a fly on the wall as I got to meet some amazing and great people who were sharing their stories with ESPN’s internal employee LGBT group, which was also internally broadcast within the parent Disney corporate world. The title of the discussion was Understanding the T: Transgender Athletes and the Challenge to Compete.

ESPN’s Christina Kahrl was the moderator of this panel which included:

Stephen Alexander, America’s first openly transgender multi sports coach www.transitiongames.com
Chloe Johnson, transgender cross fit athlete
Chris Mosier, transgender dualthalon athlete who is a member of Team USA www.transathlete.com
Wade Davis, Executive Director of the You Can Play Project, www.youcanplayproject.org
Jazz Jennings and her mom on the phone.

It strikes me that we see and hear about someone in the trans community on a daily basis. We hear the good stories, the sad stories and the outrageous, sensationalized and indescribable stories. It is easy for many to lose sight that transgender people are first and foremost just people, each trying to hopefully live their best possible life, without a burden of being defined by being transgender. I continue to say that we are all so much more than just gender.

Recently, when Janet Mock appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday program, she stated, “For most people the most interesting part of me is my transness.” This conversation was about her willingness to “own” her “transness” in order to make a positive difference for others in the world. For the athletes above, their discussion points out that their transness, which is their authenticity, has blocked them and so many other trans people from being involved and playing, competing in sports as who they truly are. Each of their stories and experience is unique. As such each is an important building block to help all people learn that transgender athletes hold no special advantages and are just people trying to live, work and play like most of us desire to do.

By being in the audience this was a time for me to have many learning moments as I listened to the participants. Here are some of the comments I heard:

Chloe told the group that she never thought of herself as being transgender. She was just female, period. She said she transitioned at the age of 16 and was never an athlete until she got into competitive Crossfit a few years ago, and was “outed” by the organization’s refusal to allow her to compete, as she was not assigned female at birth. She shared it was never her intent to be public or an activist but in order to stand up for her rights and those of others. Chloe appeared to know this was important but it was clear that her primary goal was to just live her life. At this point in time, her “transness” has blocked her from her life’s passion.

Chris shared that prior to his transition when he was competing in women’s triathlons, he never felt he belonged, as he did not feel like a woman. His personal challenge was to believe he could compete in his passion if and when he transitioned. Not only was he be able to compete but he has now become a member of TEAM USA. However, there are still many rules that may hold him back at competing at the highest levels of his sport. He reported than one goal of making the team has been achieved but there are still many blocks in his path to compete, as he desires. He told us it is not the winning that matters; it is the chance to perform that is important. I was able to relate to this from my experience as a coach of little league sports for many years.

Stephen has proved to perhaps be the prodigal son, and shown that one can go home again. Prior to his transition Stephen had guided his high school’s girls teams to multiple state championships, and now post transition he has returned to that very same school and coaches five different sports. Stephen is putting himself on the line each and every day and makes a difference to others by guiding, listening and teaching teamwork as his passions and goals. Stephen said that there are still people in his community, in the schools who hold his “transness” against him, but progress is being made day to day.

As an ally to the T community, Wade Davis taught the audience, including me, that being an ally is not a passive role. He said, “Allies need to take ACTION.” They need to speak and be heard. He also said, when you do not know about someone or his or her life, there is only one thing to do, which is to listen. This will lead to learning and acceptance, not judgment and denial.

Jazz Jennings and her mom shared a variety of stories of the battle to allow Jazz to paly competitive children’s soccer and now high school tennis. It appeared that nothing was ever easy, but this family never gave up, and are an inspiration to us all.

Wade Davis, Stephen Alexander, Christina Kahrl, Chloe Johnson, Chris Mosier

During Q&A and a question regarding the advantage of transwoman playing women’s sports, I was able to relate to Christina’s personal experience when she shared, ” I have been on HRT for 13 years now, and I cannot even open a jar. Why did they ever invent jars anyway?” I myself being on estrogen for 5 years get it. I can barely carry the grocery bags up the stairs now. I wouldn’t have it any differently.

The bottom line: From childhood through colleges, all amateur sports and even on to professional sports, the rules for allowing trans people to belong and perform are inconsistent at best, and outlandish and ignorant at worst. Sports are a must for so many of us to keep our heads on straight in this increasingly complex world. For trans youth, they must be allowed to play and play equally and not singled out. Panels like this are just a start to point this out. There is still much work to do. We need to know where will the children play!

There is another Cat Stevens song that leaves me with some hope.

Now I’ve been crying lately
Thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating
Why can’t we live in bliss

‘Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on the peace train
– Cat Stevens

###

Grace Stevens is a transgender woman who transitioned at the age of 64 and holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. She is a father of three, grandparent of two, athlete, advocate and author of No! Maybe? Yes! Living My Truth, an intimate memoir of her personal struggle to transition and live her true life authentically as a woman. Grace is available for speaking about authentic living with Living on-TRACK, and Gender Variance Education and Training. Visit her website at: www.graceannestevens.com/. Follow Grace on Twitter: www.twitter.com/graceonboard .

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/grace-anne-stevens/my-transgender-life-where_b_7633434.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Ben Cohen’s Been To More Prides Than Most Gays; Chris Pratt Taught Sick Kids To Tame Dinosaurs

NBC has announced the cancellation of Hannibal, its ultra-creepy prequel to Silence of the Lambs, after three seasons.

Ben Cohen can put most of us to shame, and we’re not talking about his stunning physical appearance. “I’ve actually been to more Prides than most gay guys, and I’m straight,” the former rugby player-turned-activist told Gay Star News, adding “Every country does it differently, they have their own style, but the underlying message is always the same.”

Just in case you’re the one person on the planet still immune to the charms of Chris Pratt, the box office superstar visited Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana over the weekend and lifted the spirits of sick kids with his raptor-wrangling skills.

It feels like centuries since we’ve had new music from Janet Jackson. Rather than release a club-banger out of the starting gate, the iconic entertainer has dropped “No Sleeep,” a sexy, old-fashioned slow jam.

Harry Potter‘s Matthew Lewis got undreamed of publicity for his revealing photo shoot for Attitude magazine, but his mother, a court magistrate, wasn’t pleased. “She knew I’d done something for a magazine,” he told The Standard. “Anyway, someone showed her and she was mortified. So I got bit of ear ache from her. Apart from that it was great.”

Duran Duran wants you to know they’re also back in the game with the new single “Pressure Off” featuring Janelle Monáe and the legendary Nile Rodgers.

Caitlyn Jenner celebrated Father’s Day by off-roading with her family, including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

Great day yesterday for Father’s Day. We had so much fun off-roading. So much love and support! Love my family! pic.twitter.com/xemTJPuySv

— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) June 22, 2015

Equinox has launched #POWEREDBYPRIDE, an interactive social media and art activation that encourages Instagram and Twitter users to pose near one of the company’s three giant Pride murals. Cazwell and pal Amanda Lepore are among the photogenic folks who’ve snapped selfies in front of the New York mural. 

Out in Brooklyn with the gurls @amandalepore ?? @yasminepetty #brooklynlove #poweredbypride @equinox A photo posted by CAZWELL (@cazwellnyc) on Jun 16, 2015 at 11:31am PDT

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/utfNmFtNutg/ben-cohens-been-to-more-prides-than-most-gays-chris-pratt-taught-sick-kids-to-tame-dinosaurs-20150622

What To Watch This Week On TV: LGBT Housemates On ‘Big Brother'; ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’

Check out our weekly guide to make sure you’re catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won’t admit you watch when no one’s looking.

— Get your pride on Saturday with the largest televised pride celebration, Logo’s Trailblazer Honors. Presenters include Samira Wiley, Raven-Symoné and Titus Burgess, while American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert is honored. Catch the broadcast Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern.

— Revisit the story of The New Jersey 4 tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on PBS and Logo. The documentary Out In the Night recounts what happened when four African-American lesbians were convicted of assault while attempting to defend themselves.

— It’s a special episode of Royal Pains Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern on USA. The episode showcases the story of a trans teen seeking help with her hormones. Trans teen Nicole Maines (who gained notoriety when she won the first U.S. case in which the court ruled that transgender students shouldn’t be prevented from using the bathroom of the gender with which they identify) stars.

— Three LGBT contestants join the house on Big Brother Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS. There’s lesbian poker player Vanessa Rousso, gay supermarket checkout attendant Jason Roy and trans digital media consultant Audrey Middleton.

— Netflix takes a look at the life of one the most gifted singers and powerful Civil Rights activists, Nina Simone in the new original documentary What Happened, Miss Simone?, premiering Friday.

What are you watching this week?

The post What To Watch This Week On TV: LGBT Housemates On ‘Big Brother’; ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’ appeared first on Towleroad.

Bobby Hankinson

What To Watch This Week On TV: LGBT Housemates On ‘Big Brother’; ‘What Happened, Miss Simone?’

'Relentlessly Gay' Fundraiser Surpasses $43K, Homeowner 'Speechless and Awed'

A woman targeted for her rainbow-themed yard decorations says she is ‘flabbergasted, in shock and also a wee bit terrified’ at the overwhelming show of support.

read more

Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/families/2015/06/22/relentlessly-gay-fundraiser-surpasses-43k-homeowner-speechless-and-awed

White Girl Tries To Sell Drugs To Cops, Proves White Privilege Is A Thing
What does a white girl gotta do to get arrested around here??

Comedian Jessie Kahnweiler wanted to know if she would get preferential treatment from the police simply for being a white woman. The results are hilarious — and frightening.

Kahnweiler pretty brilliantly shows how a funny, bubbly white girl can get away with a lot more things around police than, say, a black or hispanic person might be able to.

In one particularly crazy moment, Kahnweiler tries to sell two officers her leftover depression medication. They tell her she’d be committing a crime, and then let her go on her merry way when she apologizes and claims ignorance. So if you commit a crime, just say sorry and feign ignorance? Cool, got it.

That’s the lesson here, non-white people. When police stop you for doing nothing at all, just apologize for being a law-abiding citizen.

SO SIMPLE!

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/22/white-girl-drugs-white-privilege_n_7639342.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices