LGBT Muslims meet in D.C.
Special to Workers World
Washington, D.C.
Al-Fatiha held its Third International Retreat in
Washington, D.C., on May 24-27. The group describes itself as
an international organization dedicated to lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and questioning Muslims and their allies.
The event drew participants from the United States and at least
five other countries.
The retreat was closed to the public and media. But public
events were scheduled to allow members of other communities to
learn more about the important work of Al-Fatiha and the
international LGBTQ Muslim movement.
Panel discussions and a film showing on May 24 were packed
with an overflow crowd. The first panel theme was "Creating an
International Progressive LGBT Movement." The speakers were
Surina Khan from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission, Joo-Hyun Kang from the Audre Lorde Project, and
Leslie Feinberg, a managing editor of Workers World
newspaper.
Feinberg, who is lesbian and transgender, told the Muslim
group, "I am a working-class, secular Jewish socialist. So let
my first words be these: I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Arab
and Muslim people in this room and around the world in the
battle against the real axis of evil: the White House, Pentagon
and Justice Department. And with every breath and every sinew,
I fight for Palestinian liberation."
She received much applause when she added, "I do not believe
that our sexuality, gender expression and bodies can be
liberated without making a ferocious mobilization against
imperialist war and racism an integral part of our
struggle."
The second panel, "Hidden Lives: The Voices of LGBT People
Living in Muslim Countries," included speakers from Egypt,
Indonesia and Pakistan.
The moving work-in-progress film entitled "In the Name of
Allah," by Parvez Sharma, was shown at the event. It gives
voices to LGBT Muslims from around the world.
The international retreat concluded with a community
discussion focusing on the relationships of LGBT Jews and
Muslims.
Al-Fatiha will have a contingent in the massive New York
City Pride march on June 30--the first time that an LGBTQ
Muslim organization has taken part in this event.
Reprinted from the June 6, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS ::
SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page