Handing out pro-LGBTI leaflets at the Central London Mosque | Photo: Shannon Power
At great risk to himself Ronnie (not his real name) has come down to the London Central Mosque to hand out flyers asking the Muslim community to better support LGBTI Muslims.
He’s wearing dark glasses and a baseball bat pulled low over his eyes because he doesn’t want anyone at the mosque recognizing him.
‘I am really scared,’ he told Gay Star News.
Ronnie fled to London as an asylum seeker from Pakistan because he was not safe as a gay man there. But for the past five years he’s hidden from his family in London and is worried someone will recognize him at the mosque.
He has come down to London’s biggest mosque with the Peter Tatchell Foundation. Tatchell, Ronnie and some other volunteers handed out leaflets to worshippers heading in to Friday prayers.
‘I’m here to send a message of peace. We want to be welcomed in the mosque, we want to be treated equally,’ Ronnie said.
The event formed part the campaign – ‘LGBT-Muslim Solidarity: Fight all hate’. Its main purpose was to not only raise awareness about the plight of LGBTI Muslims, but also to let worshippers know that the Islamic holy book – the Qur’an – does not explicitly forbid homosexuality.
‘Our message to mosque worshippers was that the Qur’an does not explicitly condemn homosexuality and stipulates no punishments. There is no basis in the Qur’an for the persecution of LGBT+ Muslims. Homophobic Muslims are misinterpreting the Qur’an,’ Tatchell said.
‘This solidarity campaign urges the LGBT and Muslim communities to stand together against prejudice, challenges Muslim homophobia and defends LGBT Muslims against the far right and Islamist extremists.’
Tatchell’s foundation ran the event and other ‘bridge-building’ efforts between Muslims and the LGBTI community at the request of LGBTI Muslims.
Peter Tatchell (L) chats to a mosque staff member in London | Photo: Shannon Power
A matter of survival
But for Ronnie and people like him, acceptance from the Muslim community is a matter of life and death.
‘I am totally underground. I’m in a very vulnerable situation,’ he said.
‘It’s getting really hard to survive living like this.’
Ronnie has tried to take his life three times because of the situation he finds himself in as a closeted, Muslim, asylum seeker. But thanks to a supportive partner with whom he now lives, he is feeling better and now wants to help promote acceptance of the LGBTI community among Muslims.
‘I feel very blessed to be here… I just want to pass on the message that we are not deviants and we are not doing anything wrong, Ronnie said.
Tehmina hands out pro-LGBTI leaflets at a mosque in London | Photo: Shannon Power
How did the worshippers react?
Hundreds of worshippers passed by Tatchell and the other volunteers. The reaction to the LGBTI activists was mixed.
While most were polite or curious about why they were there, a small handful reacted with hostility.
‘One man took the leaflet and ripped it in half while he looked at me,’ Ronnie said.
‘That was hard for me to see.’
Tatchell said mainly young worshippers reacted with overtly homophobic or aggressive comments. The long-time activist said the worshippers’ mainly indifferent and bemused reactions show how far the community has come in accepting LGBTI people.
‘A few years ago when we began doing this, the level of hostility was very,’ he told Gay Star News.
‘So I would estimate attitude are slowly starting to change. Maybe not to fully embrace LGBTI Muslims, but certainly to be less hostile towards them.’
And how did Ronnie go?
Despite being on edge the entire time, Ronnie felt proud for being bold enough to do it and try to make a change.
‘I’m feeling satisfied in my heart that I’m passing on the message,’ he said.
‘I feel like I have contributed to the cause. I have struggled in my life and I am still struggling, but at least I’m doing something and taking action to contribute.’
