Muslim Student Speaks Out About Muslims Rejecting Him Because He is Gay
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We exist. Western University and London’s Muslim community must support that simple statement in more than words to start the healing after a social media post celebrating diversity was removed, says a gay Western student raised as a Muslim.
“The Muslim community won’t accept me as openly gay. They’ll say they’ll accept me because they don’t want any repercussions. But I am shunned from the community,” he said.
The student says he’s been invited to and will join a meeting being planned between Western University’s diversity leader and the London Council of Imams to deal with the controversy.
He’d like the council to acknowledge there are gay Muslims in Canada and agree they should not be shunned by family and their faith community. The student requested anonymity to protect himself and his family but said he wants to speak out after a controversial decision by Western.
On International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, on May 17, Western posted a pro-diversity image on social media that included two women wearing hijabs about to kiss. London Muslim leaders complained the post was “inappropriate” and “disrespectful” because the hijab, a headscarf, is connected to their religious practice. “This is not an attack on the LGBT-plus community, and the existence of queer Muslims is acknowledged,” a petition against the post said.
Western officials first stood by the post, but a day later, announced the image had been removed.
“You hope better from the university,” the student said. “If you’re accepting of all types of people, and the student body is supposed to have a safe space, you don’t take it down. Western felt that it was more necessary to listen to the religious community than it was to the LGBTQ community, even though they can be intersectional.”
The university’s queer caucus – made up of faculty and grad students – wrote an open letter to the administration last week.
In response, Western’s diversity vice-president, Opiyo Oloya, agreed more work needs to be done, starting with conversations with the LGBTQ community. He’s arranging the conversation with the Council of Imams, the student said. The student said he recognized he was gay when he was about 12. He was shunned by his extended family and told he could no longer attend mosque, the student said.
“If you’re openly gay, you’re going to be shunned from the community instantly. I can’t go to the mosque the way I am, the way I look,” he said. “I’d bring shame to the family. My family would stop me.”
Of course, there are many gay Muslims, but they keep it a secret to avoid being shunned, the student said.
He doesn’t miss the religious aspect of going to the mosque, but he does miss being part of the community, the student said. “There are lots of kind people that help each other out. It’s a really tight-knit community.”
rrichmond@postmedia.com
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