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Faisal
Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani
descent. He is the Founder & former Director of Al-Fatiha,
a US-based organization dedicated to supporting and empowering
Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex,
and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Faisal
began the first internet-based email discussion group (listserv)
for LGBT Muslims in November of 1997 (when he was 19 years old)
which marked the first time that LGBT Muslims could discuss issues
of concern in a safe environment. The listserv eventually led
to the first gathering for LGBTQ Muslims in October of 1998 in
Boston, where Al-Fatiha was founded. At the formation of Al-Fatiha,
Faisal was 20 years old. Since Al-Fatiha's inception, Faisal
has traveled across the United States and around the world (including
London, Cape Town, New Delhi, Karachi and Bangkok) to meet with
LGBTQ Muslims and to engage in conversation and to network to
create a global movement for liberation and equality for Muslim
sexual and gender minorities.
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Since
its inception 8 years ago, Al-Fatiha has grown to include eight
chapters in the United States with another seven affiliate chapters
in three countries (the United Kingdom, South Africa and Canada).
Al-Fatiha
has 700 members in the United States. In the eight years of its
formation, the organization has provided resources and information
to more than 3,000 people around the world. The organization has
held seven conferences and retreats in three countries that have
brought together hundreds of LGBTQ Muslims & their allies.
Al-Fatiha's mission is to provide support and to empower
to LGBTIQ Muslims who are trying to reconcile their sexual orientation
or gender identity with their religion (Islam). Al-Fatiha also
advocates on behalf of the LGBTIQ Muslim community in immigration,
refugee, and asylum cases, and in the HIV/AIDS and human rights
movement. Under Faisal's leadership and as an all volunteer-run
organization, Al-Fatiha continues to serve as a crucial resource
for those that are struggling with issues of sexuality, gender
identity, and faith. |
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Faisal
is the youngest member of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable
(NRLR), an interfaith network of more than fifty lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender leaders in the United States. He currently serves on the
board of Al-Fatiha as its Membership Coordinator and Secretary. Faisal
is also an advisory committee member of the LGBT Program at the Human
Rights Watch. He is a former advisory board member of the Center for Lesbian
and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion
in Berkeley, California and a former advisory board member of the Families
of Color (FOC) network for PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays), and a former national advisory member of the Fellowship
for Reconciliation LGBT Network.
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Faisal
has spoken at dozens of events including LGBT interfaith
services, inter-religious LGBT panel discussions, at synagogues
and churches. Additionally he has presented on Islam and
Sexuality at more than thirty universities and colleges
across the country, including Brown University, Carnegie
Mellon University, University of Michigan, Bates College,
New York University, Oberlin College, Williams College,
University of Louisville, University of Colorado and .
He has also been a keynote speaker at major events including:
Youth Pride Day in Washington, DC (April 2000), the Millennium
March on Washington (April 2000), and the San Francisco
Pride Parade & Festival (June 2001). Faisal has been
featured as a plenary speaker at conferences including
Creating Change (sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force - November 2001), Amnesty International (Mid-Atlantic
Regional Conference – 2001 & Mid-West Regional
Conference – 2001), and the University of California
system-wide LGBT Conference (February 2003). |
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Faisal
Alam's Program: |
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Hidden
Voices - The Lives of Queer Muslims
By exploring the complex diversity
within the Muslim world and by illustrating the many challenges facing
queer Muslims,
this presentation will bring new light into the lives of an often invisible
and silent community.
The history of the queer Muslim
movement will be presented and a discussion on Islam's view towards sexual
and gender
minorities will also be explored in this interactive presentation. |
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Send this Speaker to a Friend - Copy and Paste Link
http://www.wolfmanproductions.com/faisal.html
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