Imaan
A True Lifeline For
LGBT Muslims
By: Valentine Rossetti
In the bustling cosmopolitan streets of East London, there resides an organization by the name of Imaan. Imaan is an out reach centre, but with a difference, it was formed in 1996 specifically for the concern of LGBT Muslims, as before that no such organization had existed, with little support and no funding from then Conservative government, a small group of people managed to create a social support group which is now up there with the best LGBT organizations. In Britain today it is gay Muslims who are one of the most misunderstood minorities; persecuted by the majority of the Muslim community and going some what un-noticed by the rest of the population, Imaan is truly a marvel.
The founding members of Imaan no longer work for the organization, but the current batch of volunteers are working miracles in giving young gay Muslims a sense of pride and well being that they would have never had been given before. Yusef, a volunteer social worker who has been working at Imaan for the last four years, had explained “how in 2009 Imaan is the driving force in trying to install tolerance of gay people in the Muslim community” he says.
For a young gay Muslim living in the U.K today it can be one of two things, either they live in a liberal household with understanding parents who are at ease with their sexuality, and luckily the majority of British society are tolerant of gay people, seeing it as no big deal, so they are (fairly) free from persecution, or they live in one of the tight knit Muslim communities where homosexuality is taboo and gay people can face severe physical and verbal abuse from members of their community and in some cases their own family. “Gay Muslims face an extraordinary amount of prejudice, but it varies on different levels as the Muslims of Britain being originally all immigrants, are made up of people of Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani or South East Asian origins,” Yusef explained, “ so in some cases it can be worse than others” he says. But Imaan seeks to be an oasis away from prejudice, helping gay Muslims to create lasting friendships with their peers; organizing trips to theme parks like Alton Towers in Staffordshire and hosting there own parties on Religious festivals such as Ramadan.
In the bustling cosmopolitan streets of East London, there resides an organization by the name of Imaan. Imaan is an out reach centre, but with a difference, it was formed in 1996 specifically for the concern of LGBT Muslims, as before that no such organization had existed, with little support and no funding from then Conservative government, a small group of people managed to create a social support group which is now up there with the best LGBT organizations. In Britain today it is gay Muslims who are one of the most misunderstood minorities; persecuted by the majority of the Muslim community and going some what un-noticed by the rest of the population, Imaan is truly a marvel.
The founding members of Imaan no longer work for the organization, but the current batch of volunteers are working miracles in giving young gay Muslims a sense of pride and well being that they would have never had been given before. Yusef, a volunteer social worker who has been working at Imaan for the last four years, had explained “how in 2009 Imaan is the driving force in trying to install tolerance of gay people in the Muslim community” he says.
For a young gay Muslim living in the U.K today it can be one of two things, either they live in a liberal household with understanding parents who are at ease with their sexuality, and luckily the majority of British society are tolerant of gay people, seeing it as no big deal, so they are (fairly) free from persecution, or they live in one of the tight knit Muslim communities where homosexuality is taboo and gay people can face severe physical and verbal abuse from members of their community and in some cases their own family. “Gay Muslims face an extraordinary amount of prejudice, but it varies on different levels as the Muslims of Britain being originally all immigrants, are made up of people of Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani or South East Asian origins,” Yusef explained, “ so in some cases it can be worse than others” he says. But Imaan seeks to be an oasis away from prejudice, helping gay Muslims to create lasting friendships with their peers; organizing trips to theme parks like Alton Towers in Staffordshire and hosting there own parties on Religious festivals such as Ramadan.
Listening to Yusef talk about the wonderful things him and other volunteers are doing, you really get a sense that there is only goodness in their hearts, which is so inspiring. Imaan’s work stretches much further afield than you would think, aiding the Police and Social Services, working with the Courts in cases of Asylum seeing that gay Asylum seekers get the fair and accurate treatment they deserve and working with the victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking. With doing all this Imaan’s volunteers still have time to offer a telephone and emergency counseling service.
It has always appeared that Muslims have had and always will have, like the Christians and Catholics, an atavistic feeling of unachievable acceptance and dislike for gay people, but taking the time to look it is easy to find that there are great progressions in Islam in regards to homosexuality, with Muslim scholars arguing that gay Muslims should be treated the same as their heterosexual counterparts etc. Sharing his personal opinions on the issue, Yusuf thinks no less of his religion “Of course there have been changes, and with the drum of LGBT rights getting louder and louder true change is inevitable” he says.
It has always appeared that Muslims have had and always will have, like the Christians and Catholics, an atavistic feeling of unachievable acceptance and dislike for gay people, but taking the time to look it is easy to find that there are great progressions in Islam in regards to homosexuality, with Muslim scholars arguing that gay Muslims should be treated the same as their heterosexual counterparts etc. Sharing his personal opinions on the issue, Yusuf thinks no less of his religion “Of course there have been changes, and with the drum of LGBT rights getting louder and louder true change is inevitable” he says.
'...the reaction to Imaan in Britain has been a mixed affair, there is an undertone of racism... the majority of people are very supportive, including hetrosexual Muslims...'
But in Yusef’s opinion as with any major change situations usually get worse before they get better, and as many types of Islam culturally are worlds apart, change will come quicker for some Muslim cultures than it will in others. But it really depends on the person, what they think is right… the reaction to Imaan in Britain, has been a mixed affair, there is some homophobic cases in the opinions of a few, there is also an undertone of racism in the views of others. But the majority of people are very supportive, including the local government and also having many heterosexual Muslim supporters.
A work which can only be described as heartwarming, Imaan is an organization which deserves recognition, with its team of volunteers working tirelessly to see that LGBT Muslims have a place to be themselves and to live their lives freely, happy and peacefully...
You can check Imaan's offical site for more info, articles and news: www.Imaan.org.uk
A work which can only be described as heartwarming, Imaan is an organization which deserves recognition, with its team of volunteers working tirelessly to see that LGBT Muslims have a place to be themselves and to live their lives freely, happy and peacefully...
You can check Imaan's offical site for more info, articles and news: www.Imaan.org.uk