I am a Homosexual

I have never been whipped publicly or threatened with beheading, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been ridiculed or driven from a Mosque, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been accused of molesting children, or bestiality, or any other perversion, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been driven my home, rejected by my parents, hated by brothers and sisters, despised by teachers and religious leaders, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been beaten, or assaulted, or bashed, or stabbed, or shot at, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been publicly villified, or scorned, or condemned, or deemed unworthy of Allah's compassion, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been denied the right to love, to form a relationship, to find comfort with another human being, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been denied legal protection under the law, or medical treatment, or the right to participate in religious celebrations, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

I have never been accused of moral weakness, of impaired judgement, of diabolical possession, but I could have, because I am a homosexual.

None of these things have happened to me, and yet, I live in fear of the day when they will. I live in fear of the rejection and ridicule I know will come. I live in fear of the bodily harm I know will come. I live in fear of the day when I am found out, discovered, outed, exposed. I live in constant fear.

You, my brothers and my sisters in Allah, the ones who should comfort and protect me, so often you are the first to raise your hands against me. How you hate! Such vicious, blind, unreasoning, black hatred.

I could be a murderer, a child molester, a wife beater, and your hatred would not be nearly as intense. I could make my living exploiting the poor and the weak, and you would not say a word. I could be a pimp, a drug dealer, a racist, a whore - you would not care. But when I say I am a homosexual, how quickly you ridicule and revile me. How quickly you condemn and reject me.

Allah will judge between you and me - to you, your works, and to me, mine. If wanting the companionship of other homosexuals is my only crime, then I will gladly pay the price. Better to be punished for wanting to love than giving in to hate. If wanting to create a compassionate and pragmatic response to homosexuality among the Muslim community is my only crime, then go ahead and sentence me. Better to be punished for trying to build bridges rather than tearing them down. If telling the truth is a crime, then so be it. I would rather be punished for being honest about myself than be accepted because of hypocrisy.

So many messengers and prophets, and still you do not hear!



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