On intolerence

campusleak.com

Being Muslim is difficult in a post 9/11 world and if you are a homosexual, it is a double whammy. You are in a constant battle of fighting off “Islamophobia” with other communities and homophobia with your own. There is “no recognition by any Muslim group so far of gay legitimacy as a community,” as pointed out by Farzana, Chair of Imaan Group, a social group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Muslims, their families, friends and supporters.

“It is shocking in this climate of Islamophobia that a part of Muslim community is compounding anti-Muslim prejudice with homophobia,” said Tatchell.

The difference, of course, is between a cultural and a religious intolerence. Culturally, I could rightly be described (particularly by someone of a different cultural group) as christian or a judeo-christian despite the fact I neither practise a religion nor believe in a divine being and/or word. I have my own beliefs which are open to criticism, just as should be those of any member of any religious faith. My beliefs and my culture are not, however, inextricably bound. Although my culture is judeo-christian, I am neither a Christian or a Jew (in the religious sense). The fact, that some muslims justify homophobia on religious grounds should have no incidence on the cultural intolerence usually embodied in islamophobia which tends to tarnish anyone associated with islam (as I am associated - culturally - with Christianity and Judaism) with the same brush.