Which Islamic sects are pro-GLBT civil rights?

The "Today, I Am A Muslim, Too" rally in New York City was moving, but are we cheering homophobic organizations?

I have spoken with Muslims in my school, but never about politics or religion. They are foreign exchange students, and I want them to feel comfortable and happy while visiting my town. All of them were extremely nice and intelligent people. Even if they are homophobic, I would have a hard time not liking them.

Our media does not seem to differentiate between the different Islamic sects within the US. Which ones are liberal and support civil rights? Which ones should I feel most conformable cheering?

I don't want any religious group in the US to be treated poorly by the majority, but I don't really want to cheer homophobic organizations either. I currently believe celebrating pro-gay Islamic sects is the way to go. If we advocate the good sects, then we are being true to our values while avoiding adding to Islamophobia in the US. What do you think?

I am aware I have an anti-monotheistic opinions. If my biases come through in this post, I apologize. I am trying to figure out which religious organizations are on "our side." Although I have alienated our religious allies in the past, I am slowly and clumsily trying to get past that. I am growing weary of my anger.

I corresponded briefly with one, but he's not a big fan of Jews.


This might help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Muslims

http://www.al-fatiha.org/

http://www.al-bab.com/arab/background/gay.htm

The Al-Fatiha website is still under construction, but I wish them well. They seem to be true allies.



I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

:)

I can help him ;)

...in its more obnoxious manifestations.

Sufi are the more liberal end of Islam.

helpfully,
Bright

I am extremely ignorant about the Sufis.

Maybe my family and I should take a field trip to the bookstore this weekend.

I'm an atheist, but I'm also a big supporter in freedom of religion. I support religious minorities, such as Muslims, being able to practice their faith and build mosques in the country. Yet, at the same time I struggle with the feeling that I'm helping and supporting people who may be anti-gay, and thus I could be acting in a way that undermines my own struggle for civil rights.

I also worry that sometimes by supporting certain Muslim's that it could mean I'm supporting people or groups that are anti-Jewish. Of course, by the same token I wouldn't want to support a Jewish group that was anti-Muslim.

It's important to me to know that whomever I am supporting, regardless of their faith, shares my values. That's where the hang-up is - not with religion - with values. Yet, at the same time I'd find it hard to deny an anti-gay Muslim group the right to practice their faith, UNLESS they advocated violence against a certain group (gay or otherwise) - and the same goes for any other religion.

A while back in a muslim nation I discussed gays with local professor who was considered very liberal there. I pointed out that GLBTs were a significant part of the population. He said that was fine, they had lots of rocks...

reprehensible. Islamic 'sects' that are gay-friendly are about as prevalent as Metropolitan Community churches in "Christianity" and are reviled by official doctrine...

There's a lot of defense of Islam here on DU I've noticed but I'm not interested in respecting any religion that has a basic tenet saying I should die just because of who I am. A pox on them all.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_isla2.htm

If you announce you are gay you might have a harder time finding an apartment in the middle of the US bible belt. In the middle east you would be at risk of being stoned to death.

...

I say that as someone who trains GLBT and women to survive and even win attacks by predators.

islam has 2 main sects (sunnis and Shi'ites) but each mosque is pretty independent. there are fewer central authorities. also, what the type of islam practiced in a country differs from another country.

anyhow i happen to know many progressive muslims and queer muslims, who consider islam their religion, but don't go to mosques either.

i think its ok to disparage certain leaders in islam, but its bigoted to disparage as a whole especially since the way its practiced in algeria is not the same as saudi arabia is not the same as turkey etc.

exhortations?

So why is Islam subject to such phobia in an open manner, while Judaism gets a pass?

I know this is a standard phobe-disclaimer, but my best friends have always been Jewish, so I appreciate all responses, but would especially appreciate it if someone who is Jewish can respond here. Thanks.

Although I would say the GLBT community has more rights in Israel than we do in the U.S. Not all jewish people are the same as not all Muslims are the same.

Where, in the OT, is there "violently homophobic imagery and exhortations?" I am aware of the one law in Leviticus, but where else?

There is a difference between Islam and Judaism. Orthodox Judaism is not very tolerant at all. There have been a number of posts against it and making fun of those in that sect when they "blame the gays" for various issues. However, different sects are very accepting of GLBT persons. Reform Jews were among some of the first of organized religions in this country to preform gay marriages. So, it is not a "phobia" to discuss the homophobia so prevalent in Islam any more than it is anti-Semitic to discuss the same in sects of Judaism or its tomes.

Cheers. :hi:

Its the people that make the difference.I guess that in my experience I never met a Jewish family intolerant of homosexuals.Maybe because theres so many of us?

homosexuality is almost universally considered an abomination under God. Whether you're referring to Sunnis or Shiites, an exception from a practicing Muslim would be unconventional and extremely rare. But just like Christians, that doesn't necessarily mean you would be treated poorly by them - especially Muslims outside the middle east.

I think most conventional churches would not treat homosexuals poorly, but at the same time feel they should "repent." I had a conversation with our Chaplain's Assistant along these lines while discussing gays in the military.

It's better than 0%, but it's still quite fringe.

Well, in the 2008 General Social Survey, it was 18%, where the dependent measure is agreement with the statement "Homosexual couples should have the right to marry one another," and "regular church-going Christians" means self-identified Protestants or Catholics who said they attended church "nearly every week" or more. (Another 13% said they "neither agree nor disagree.")

This isn't to rebut what you said. It's true that there aren't many Christian denominations or sects that, as a whole, are GLBT-positive. It maybe isn't quite as fringe as you suggest, depending on whether the Episcopal Church in the USA counts -- but it's definitely unusual.

As for U.S. Muslims, the GSS interviews so few that there is no telling. There must be other research, but I don't know it.

But I will say that with regard to liberal Catholics, you are not allowed doctrinally to waver from Vatican views into which all adult Catholics are supposed to be indoctrinated. In other words, you may have always supported a woman's right to choose, but you can't effectively do so without risking excommunication.

I guess you know more about their churches than they do?

Wouldn't be a problem for me.