An activist, who was the primary Muslim woman to guide a Pride parade in Britain, says her mission in life is “to advertise the inclusivity of sexuality and gender”.
The PA news agency is interviewing a series of individuals celebrating Pride Month in June, including Saima Razzaq, 38, from Birmingham.
Ms Razzaq is the director of change and communications at Birmingham Pride, and he or she uses her platform as a part of the LGBT+, South Asian, and Muslim communities to carve out an area throughout the intersection.
Ms Razzaq, who’s a lesbian but in addition uses the queer umbrella to explain her sexuality, became the primary Muslim woman to guide a Pride parade in Britain at Birmingham Pride in 2021.
“Leading Pride was a monumental moment and clearly now I work at Pride consequently of that,” Ms Razzaq told PA.
After participating within the Birmingham Pride Parade on May 27 this 12 months, Ms Razzaq said she shall be talking to and dealing with the community in the town for the rest of Pride Month.
“Now, the thing is about stepping into conversations inside my very own community,” she said.
“It’s about organising and dealing with the on a regular basis communities of Birmingham, and taking them on this journey and dealing towards, ‘what can we do next?’”
– When did you ‘come out’ and the way did your loved ones respond?
Ms Razzaq said her mother approached her about her sexuality when she was 29 while they were driving to select up a takeaway.
“She made me drive and he or she waited until we were on a toll road and said, ‘do you want women?’
“I used to be like, ‘oh my god, why now?’,” Ms Razzaq recalled.
“Since that moment, I’ve seen an enormous change in my mum. Now, she’s changing her language.”
Ms Razzaq added she looks as much as members of her family, and he or she regards them as her “superheroes”.
“People look as much as influences and all these famous people, I don’t, I look as much as my aunties and uncle – they’re my superheroes,” she said.
“Even though my aunties and my uncle won’t understand my queerness, they’re there.”
She added: “Faith is absolutely necessary for me, and simply because I’m queer, doesn’t mean I’m not Muslim, they usually’ve not othered me for that either.
“Again, I believe it’s really necessary for me to have this supportive family to permit me the space to do that.”
– What is your relationship together with your faith?
Ms Razzaq said her faith helps her to “do higher” and to “fulfil her mission in life”.
“I’m a Muslim, I even have a relationship with God, I feel very connected with God, like straight away, I feel probably the most connected I’ve ever been.”
She added: “The Koran tells me to deal with where I’m and the people I’m surrounded with and to do higher and to fulfil my mission in life.
“I feel my mission in life is to advertise the inclusivity of sexuality and gender.
“There is a very positive thing happening in Birmingham, and in time, Insha’Allah, the broader world will see it.”
– Have you experienced any hate or abuse since coming out?
Ms Razzaq said that while everyone seems to be “joyful” for her with reference to her sexuality, she receives “much more Islamophobia and racism” for being a lady of color in a leadership position.
“Everyone is absolutely joyful for me to be queer, but after I suddenly say, ‘yes I’m also Pakistani’, ‘I’m also Muslim’, and ‘I’m pleased with those intersections’, it’s a narrative that individuals aren’t that accustomed to,” she said.
“People aren’t used to that side of the story. I get much more Islamophobia and racism for being a lady of color in leadership.”
Ms Razzaq said she has been the victim of several hate crimes, including someone urinating on her bed on the narrow boat where she lives.
“I’ve had my automotive stolen, for instance, in a very horrific way, I’ve had people urinate in my bed on my boat, I’ve had horrible calls.”
She added that she “doesn’t need anybody to guage my Muslimness”, and he or she finds that it’s those that should not of the religion that are likely to judge her more.
“And actually, it’s non-Muslims who will judge my Muslimness greater than Muslims,” she said.
“Our communities will work through things, but we’d like everyone else to permit us the space to work through things as well.”
– What are the challenges throughout the intersections of religion and queerness?
Ms Razzaq said “it isn’t easy” for those in faith communities to bring up the topic of queerness, but she said she has noticed more people in South Asian communities coming out.
“Everyone could have difficulty bringing in the topic of queerness since it has been so polarised.
“It isn’t easy for most individuals in faith settings, and I believe it’s really necessary that we reclaim this narrative.
“What I’ve noticed since I’ve come out is, and that’s just throughout the circle I’m a part of, I’ve seen other South Asians come out, and their parents support them in that journey.”
On what advice she would give to someone in a faith setting who wished to come back out, she said: “The most vital thing to recollect is that you simply’re valid, you’re absolutely valid.
“Your queerness or your gender identity is totally valid, be your authentic self.
“There are people such as you, and for me, finding other queer South Asians, other queer Muslims, has been one of the best a part of my journey.”
