Watch: What it’s like to be LGBT+ in the Muslim World

In a new video from Human Rights Watch, the organisation interviews several LGBT+ Arabs about it’s like to be queer in the Muslim world. The video includes people from Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and all across the Middle East and North Africa.

They share harrowing experiences of being attacked, harassed and stigmatized, but also share the strength they found from within themselves and the joy of embracing their LGBT+ identity.

Noor, a lesbian from Sudan, talks about how she found out she wasn’t alone: “I found this [Facebook] group that had many Sudanese lesbian girls. I wrote, ’Where are you, people?’ I realized I was not alone in the world and that there are many people like me, and I was very happy.”

Hamed Sinno, from the band Mashrow Leila, talks of being bullied in school: “I felt like a freak of nature. That there was something completely wrong with my existence, even… What I didn’t realize is that there is nothing wrong with me. It’s the people around me who were wrong.”

While the content of the video can be upsetting and disturbing, ultimately there is a message of love and acceptance. Moroccan writer Abdellah Taia tells viewers: “You’re gay; it’s not a disease. You’re not against religion or Islam. You’re not against your culture, or the state, or your family.”

Tim Gibson - mygwork

_________________ 

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs 
__________________ 

SIGN UP to myGwork, the global networking and recruitment hub for LGBTI professionals and graduates

www.mygwork.com
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn