Recently, I have started to run into LGBTQ Muslim authors at Barnes and Noble. Since I have a habit of buying most Muslim author books (not all) I bought the two fiction novels on Gay Muslim men from different Islamic backgrounds. A few months ago, I did buy a non-fiction novel on the LGBTQ community in Islam. Reading these three books sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate Pride month.

It’s important for us to understand how everyone feels, from Muslim women to queer Muslims. Non-Muslims might find it contradictory that someone can be Gay and Muslim. The United States Christians still struggle with accepting Gay rights and understanding Gay Christians. There is even talk about a straight pride parade in Boston because apparently straight people threatened? We often confuse sexuality with “natural” behavior, yet “Modern psychiatry increasingly holds that sexual orientations are an inherent part of an individuals personality”.

Modern psychiatry increasingly holds that sexual orientations is
an inherent part
of an individuals personality

Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle

Sexuality could be genetic, hormonal balances in the womb, or shaped by childhood, we don’t know. Yet we know it was common being Gay in the ancient times, being gay is not a new concept. Societies dealt with it in various ways. I will do another post on sexuality and homosexuality in Islam later. For now, check out these three books!

1. Homosexuality in Islam: Critical Reflections on Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Muslims by Scott Siraj Al-Haqq Kugle LGBTQ groups are often targeted throughout the Muslim world. Members can and will be killed in honor killings ignored by local police. Islamic scholars, scholars, and commentators maintain that the Quran and Hadith are against homosexuality/bisexuality. This book argues that there are far more nuances to the matter. Some hadiths are actually equivocal on the subject. this book gives a long treatment of detailed analysis if how /Islamic scripture, jurisprudence, and hadith can endorse it. Scotts has written other books on Islam and Homosexuality.
2. My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci This book follows a young gay man who struggles with being a foreigner in Finland. Where people are suspicious of foreigners. The young man’s mother is also followed into the books, she flees a war in Yugoslavia. Bekim, the young man, meets a cat in a gay bar who convince Bekim to travel to Yugoslavia and confront his families past.
3. God in Pink by Hasan Namir Ramy is a gay man who lives with is conservative brother and his wife in Baghdad during 2003. His family pressures him to find a wife but Romy has no interest as his struggles in anguish to find a balance of culture and religion with his sexuality. Ramy seeks advice from a sheik at a local mosque; who’s viewpoint is challenged by Ramy and the teachings of the Quran.