spoke to Ubaid, Secretary of maan about the issues facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Muslims in Britain today. The views expressed below are those of the interviewee and not necessarily of Imaan. Q: When and why was Imaan created and what is the main work that you do? A: Imaan is the new name of the old London based gay Muslim organisation that went by the name of Al-Fatiha UK. In 1999 a group of gay Muslims met in First Out café with the founder of the US-based Al-Fatiha organisation.
Initially Al-Fatiha UK acted as a social support group for gay Muslims who lived openly or in the closet as gay people but also wanted to keep hold of their religion. The group provided the people with a voice where they can talk about their sexuality, Islam, coming out, cultural issues such as arranged marriages, and living double lives.
The group held two successful conferences and had reached out to many LGBT Muslims around the UK and the world. Slowly the number of LGBT Muslims and their partners and friends increased on the AlFatiha UK members list.
However 2003 saw Al-Fatiha UK with a new committee who decided to change the name of Al-Fatiha UK to Imaan.
Since 2003 Imaan has taken on more roles than just that of a social support circle. It has been forced in to fighting against the emerging Islamaphobia that exists within the gay community. It has also worked to help gay Muslims who are fighting to keep their refugee status in the UK. It has also marched at gay Pride, and fought for gay rights terms maan has become politiCal.
It has also begun to provide a religious space for those members who wish to express their religion by praying and reciting the Koran.
So now Imaan acts in 3 ways: Religious; Social support; and Political. Q: What has been the effect of the growing climate of Islamaphobia in Britain on the organisation and its members? How is this manifested in the LGBT communities and what particular issues does this raise for your work? A: Islamaphobia poses a threat to all Muslims regardless of sexuality.
Imaan has had a few gay organisations talking for gay Muslims and saying very offensive one-sided views. We have also had one organisation be openly Islamaphobic, who we criticised, and they have since changed the managing board. Imaan has been fighting such Islamaphobic views mainly since the July bombings and will continue to do so.
The LGBT community is very diverse. Imaan cannot and does not want to control people's views on Islam. What Imaan would like people to realise is that what they see on the news in terms of fundamentalist Muslims killing and bombing is not Islam.
Such images need to be seen in its full context of political cultural and social backgrounds. Education is important and Imaan intends to provide this as well as challenging those that blame Islam itself for the creation of terrorists.
The typical comments gay Muslims hear in the community are Islamaphobic talk in chat rooms such as "the sooner Islam is destroyed the better it would be for the world!" in bars and clubs where people question work if it can contribute. the individual for choosing to have a religion, or fellow gay people calling gay Muslims suicide bombers while they match side by side at the last London Pride. Q: What particular challenges do you face as an LGBT Muslim organisation? A: We only used to face the challenge of non-LGBT Muslims attacking us and questioning our existence. We now have LGBT people attacking us for choosing to be Muslims.
Another challenge is to be formally recognised by Muslim organisations and gaining their support and cooperation. Q: Have you been supported by other Muslim groups or individuals? A: We have support from an Imam who does not criticise us and believes we should be allowed to express our religion as well as sexuality.
We have had the support of a progressive Muslim organisation that believes Islam needs to be progressive to work with the modern day world. Q: What can our readers, who oppose the war in Iraq and the "war on terror" at home, do to support your organisation? In particular what can our readers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender do to support you within the LGBT community? A: They can first of all reach out and fight the Islamaphobic comments. More LGBT non-Muslim people need to challenge the Islamaphobic sayings in society especially within the LGBT community.
Secondly spread the word that a gay Muslim organisation exists and the need to promote and support it.
Join the mailing list, become a member at: http://www.imaan.org.uk
Support can also be given by donations.
Thirdly celebrate and embrace diversity. Include maan in your
We would like more volunteers. Gay Muslim volunteers would be appreciated, but anyone who would like to contribute we would like to hear from them.