Short Bio:
Faisal Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. At age 19, while trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, Faisal organized the first-ever gathering of LGBT Muslims, which led to the founding of Al-Fatiha, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex & questioning (LGBTIQ) Muslims, and their allies. Faisal led the organization from it’s inception in 1997 to 2003 as its volunteer director. The mission of Al-Fatiha is to support and empower LGBTIQ Muslims seeking ways to integrate their faith and their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Since founding Al-Fatiha, Faisal has traveled across the country and around the world to meet with LGBTIQ Muslims to build a global queer Muslim movement. Faisal’s queer Muslim activism has been featured in LGBT and mainstream media including the New York Times, BBC World News, Al-Hayat, and the Washington Post.
Faisal was one of the first LGBT leaders to speak out against the US-led war in Afghanistan and the US-led invasion of Iraq. His protests against the rising Islamophobia and the assault on civil liberties and civil rights in the US have led conservative elements within the gay community to call for his deportation to Guantanamo Bay, while some conservative gay journalists have called him “weak” and “cowardly,” for his opposition to the so-called “war on terror.”
Faisal has received numerous recognitions and awards for his activism on behalf of queer Muslims. Advocate Magazine selected him as an "Innovator," Genre Magazine has recognized him as a "Founding Father," and the Utne Reader chose Faisal as one of 30 "Young Visionaries Under 30." In April 2005 the Equality Forum recognized Faisal as one of “40 Heroes” who have "made a defining difference in LGBT civil rights over the last forty years," and in June 2008 Faisal received recognition and an award from Pride Toronto for his "outstanding contribution in the area of spirituality that positively impacts LGBT communities."
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FAISAL ALAM
* speaker * writer * activist
Faisal Alam is
queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. Faisal began the
first internet-based email discussion group (listserv) for LGBT Muslims in
November of 1997 (when he was 19 years old) which marked the first time that
LGBT Muslims could discuss issues of common concern in a safe
environment. This listserv eventually led to the First International
Retreat for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Muslims, which (at the time)
was believed to be the first known gathering of queer Muslims. Al-Fatiha
(which means “The Beginning” or “The Opening”) was the theme of the retreat and
eventually became the name of the organization founded to support Muslims who
were struggling to reconcile their faith and their sexual orientation or gender
identity.
Since its inception in 1998, Al-Fatiha has grown to include eight
chapters in the United States
with another seven sister-organizations in three countries (the United Kingdom,
South Africa
and Canada).
Al-Fatiha has 800 members in the United States.
Since its formation, the organization has provided resources, counseling
services and information to more than 3,000 people around the world.
Al-Fatiha’s mission is to provide support and to empower to LGBTIQ Muslims who
are trying to reconcile their sexual orientation or gender identity with their
religion (Islam). In a post-9/11 world, Al-Fatiha continues to advocate
on behalf of the LGBTIQ Muslim community in immigration, refugee, and asylum
cases, and in the HIV/AIDS and human rights movements. As an
all-volunteer organization Al-Fatiha serves as a crucial resource for those
struggling with questions of sexuality, gender identity, and faith.
As the founder and former volunteer director of Al-Fatiha (1998-2005), Faisal
has traveled across the United States and around the world (including London,
Cape Town, New Delhi, Karachi and Bangkok) to meet with LGBTIQ Muslims and
their allies to build a community leading to a global movement for liberation
and equality for Muslim sexual and gender minorities.
Faisal’s presentation “Hidden Voices: The Lives
of LGBT Muslims” has been featured at more than fifty universities and
colleges including Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of
Michigan, Duke University, Bates College, New York University, Oberlin College,
Williams College, University of Louisville, Columbia University, University of
Colorado and University of Minnesota. In addition Faisal has spoken at numerous
events across the country including LGBT interfaith services, inter-religious
LGBT panel discussions, at synagogues, churches, PFLAG meetings and other
community events.
Faisal has been featured as a
plenary and keynote speaker at many conferences including the Creating Change
conference (of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) (2001), the Amnesty
International’s Mid-Atlantic & Mid-West regional conferences (2001), the
University of California system-wide LGBT conference (2003), the Mid-West LGBT
Student’s conference (held at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2006)
and the LGBT Western Regional College conference (held at UC Santa Barbara in
2009).
In 2000 Faisal was one of a handful of religious leaders who spoke at the Millennium March on Washington.
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National LGBT Activism: Faisal has represented Al-Fatiha on a number of advisory boards. From
1998-2000 he was the youngest member of the National Religious Leadership
Roundtable (NRLR), an interfaith network of more than fifty lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender faith-leaders in the United States. During his
tenure as volunteer director of Al-Fatiha, Faisal served on the national
advisory boards of: the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion
and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, PFLAG National’s
Family of Color Network and the Fellowship for Reconciliation’s LGBT
Network. Faisal currently serves as an advisor to Al-Fatiha and he is a
member of the national advisory committee of the LGBT Program at Human Rights
Watch.
Media Coverage: Faisal’s work with Al-Fatiha has been featured in newspapers and magazines
around the world, including the New York Times, Washington Post,
San Francisco Chronicle, Al-Hayat, Atlanta
Journal Constitution, and the Miami Herald. He has also
appeared on BBC News and BBC Radio. Faisal has written
numerous articles and opinion/editorials that have appeared in gay and lesbian
newspapers including the Washington Blade the New York Blade,
and the Southern Voice. Faisal was one of the first LGBT
leaders to speak out against the US-led war in Afghanistan and the US-led invasion of Iraq.
His protests against the rising Islamophobia and the assault on civil liberties
and civil rights in the US
have led conservative elements within the gay community to call for his
deportation to Guantanamo
Bay,
while some conservative gay journalists have called him “weak” and “cowardly,”
for his opposition to the so-called “war on terror.”
Awards & Recognitions: Faisal has received numerous recognitions and awards for his activism on behalf
of queer Muslims. He was selected as an “Innovator” by the Advocate
Magazine (in 2001), a “Founding Father” by Genre Magazine (in 2002)
and as one of 30 “Young Visionaries Under 30” by the Utne Reader (in
2002). In March 2003 he received a “Faith in Action” award by the
Metropolitan Community Church of New York City and in April 2003 Faisal was
honored as the first recipient of the Richard L. Schlegel Legion of Honor Award
by the American University LGBT and AllyResource
Center.
In April 2005 the Equality Forum recognized Faisal as one of “40 Heroes” who
have "made a defining difference in LGBT civil rights over the last forty
years." And in June 2008 Faisal received an award from Pride Toronto
for his "outstanding contribution in the area of spirituality that
positively impacts LGBT communities."
Community Activism: Faisal has been active in numerous community-based organizations in Boston, MA,
Washington DC, and Atlanta, GA including: MASALA (Massachusetts South
Asian Lesbian & Gay Association), AQUA DC (Asian Queers United in Action),
Khush DC (an LGBT South Asian group), OUTFront DC (the LGBT program of Amnesty
International, USA) and Trikone Atlanta (an LGBT South Asian group).
Social Justice Work: In addition to his LGBT
faith-based activism, Faisal has championed other social justice concerns
including human rights, immigration & asylum rights, HIV/AIDS education and
advocacy, public health, reproductive health and reproductive justice. His
past employers have included the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the
National Minority AIDS Council, and the Association of Minority Health
Professions Schools. Faisal currently resides in Atlanta, GA where
he continues to advocate for peace, equality and justice. |
