London will host what is being billed as the “world’s first” and transgender Muslim pride event this spring.
A crowdfunding campaign raised nearly $20,000 to hold “Imaanfest: Muslim Pride” on April 11 to celebrate gay and transgender members of the Muslim community.
The event will be held indoors and feature speakers, films, and an exhibition of Muslim gay and transgender history.
✨Calling all LGBTQI Muslims!✨
Tickets are now live for #ImaanFest Muslim Pride on 11 April in London. Don’t miss an amazing lineup of speakers, workshops, art, entertainment & food!https://t.co/xXxMq45ogY— LGBT Foundation (@LGBTfdn) February 26, 2020
“The media has tried to control the narrative about Queer Islamic identities for too long, often thrusting us into a horrific culture war, as if Islam is the mortal enemy of queer identity,” said Amrou Al-Kadhi, a Muslim-British filmmaker who will speak at the event.
Imaan is a charity that has operated for 20 years and describes itself as “the U.K.’s leading LGBTQ Muslim charity.”
“We have had to fight Islamophobia, Homophobia, Transphobia and Racism to get our voices heard and being part of this celebration is an opportunity to share the message that we are here, we are queer and some of us don’t drink beer!” said Muslim transgender activist Asifa Lahore, who will also speak at the event.
There are more than 3 million Muslims in England, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Khan has supported similar events in the past, including kicking off 2019’s gay pride parade while blasting Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his comments on gay and transgender issues.
“When you speak to members of the LGBTQ+ community, they will tell you that some of the homophobia they suffered, the attackers used this language, the same sort of language he’s used. What I want to see from our prime minister, if it is Boris Johnson, it looks like it will be, is him realising that language matters,” Khan said.
