 |
|
Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World
Thursday, May 1 :
7:00 PM - 8:15 PM Equality Forum 2008's featured international programming takes a bold look at gay and lesbian life and identity in Muslim countries. Moderated by Michael Luongo, author of Gay Travels in the Muslim World, this program offers inside accounts of the discrimination faced by gay and lesbian citizens, and the growing voices emerging from within Muslim countries. Related events: Screening of A Jihad for Love on Friday, May 2. Conversation with Irshad Manji on Sunday, May 4.
Michael Luongo (Moderator)
Michael Luongo is the former Series Editor for Haworth Press's Out in the World book series on gay and lesbian travel literature. In August 2007, he released his Haworth book Gay Travels In The Muslim World, which tells both Muslim and non-Muslim gay men's stories of traveling in the Middle East during these difficult political times. He is a freelance contributor to publications such as The New York Times, Out Traveler, Gay City News and others, and has traveled in over 80 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
El-Farouk Khaki
El-Farouk Khaki is a nationally-recognized human rights activist, and immigration and refugee lawyer. He founded Salaam, the world’s first queer Muslim group in 1991. and is one of the co-founders, and now Secretary-General, of the Canadian Muslim Union.
Arsham Parsi
Arsham Parsi is a founding member of IRQO (formerly known as PGLO) and works for the advancement of civil rights for lesbians and gays. He considers the work he is doing today to be an investment in a brighter tomorrow for all Iranians.
John Scagliotti
John Scagliotti is an award-winning filmmaker, television producer and radio broadcaster. He is the creator and Executive Producer of In the Life, the first gay and lesbian national series on PBS. Scagliotti directed Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World, a documentary film focusing on the GLBT human rights struggle.
Parvez Sharma
Parvez Sharma is a journalist and has worked with numerous media, including radio, print, and broadcast. He has collaborated with award-winning filmmakers and on programming for BBC World Television (India), the Discovery Channel, and the World Bank. He is best known for directing the film, A Jihad For Love.
Film Screening: A Jihad for Love with Q&A
Friday, May
2
This acclaimed film is the world's first documentary on gay, lesbian and transgender Muslims. A Q&A with director Parvez Sharma and producer Sandi DuBowski and Arsham Parsi follows the screening. More info: www.ajihadforlove.com Fourteen centuries after the revelation of the holy Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islam today is the world's second largest and fastest growing religion. Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma travels the many worlds of this dynamic faith discovering the stories of its most unlikely storytellers: lesbian and gay Muslims. Filmed over 5 1/2 years, in 12 countries and 9 languages, "A Jihad for Love" comes from the heart of Islam. Looking beyond a hostile and war-torn present, this film seeks to reclaim the Islamic concept of a greater Jihad, which can mean 'an inner struggle' or 'to strive in the path of God'. In doing so the film and its remarkable subjects move beyond the narrow concept of 'Jihad' as holy war.
|
