Gay rights in islam

Jump to navigation. This thought would be anathema not only to some religious people who disapprove of anything non-heterosexual but also to many LGBT individuals who see religion as their arch enemy. Islam seems to have a special place in such debates, especially in the West where the mass media is saturated with images of violence, misogyny, homophobia and other nastiness perpetrated by Muslims. In no particular order, they are:. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.

With over a billion followers, Islam is the second largest religion in the world, and noted for its diversity of culture and ethnicity. Founded by the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in CE, Islam is an Abrahamic religion that shares its roots with Judaism and Christianity and recognizes Abraham, Moses and Jesus as prophets. Because Islam has no central governing body, it is not possible to state clear policies regarding issues of interest to LGBTQ people. Depending on nationality, generation, family upbringing, and cultural influences, Islamic individuals and institutions fall along a wide spectrum, from welcoming and inclusive to a level of rejection that can be marked by a range of actions ranging from social sequestration to physical violence. There are also growing opportunities for alternative and meaningful worship and community. MECCA Institute was recently established as an online school for the study of an inclusive theology of Islam for those seeking more expansive and inclusive interpretations of Islamic texts.

Attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender LGBT people, and their experiences in the Muslim world , have been influenced by its religious, legal, social, political, and cultural history. The Quran narrates the story of the "people of Lot " destroyed by the wrath of God because they engaged in lustful carnal acts between men. However, homosexual relationships were generally tolerated in pre-modern Islamic societies , [9] [10] and historical record suggests that these laws were invoked infrequently, mainly in cases of rape or other "exceptionally blatant infringement on public morals ". In recent times, extreme prejudice against homosexuals persists, both socially and legally, in much of the Islamic world, exacerbated by increasingly conservative attitudes and the rise of Islamist movements.

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Notice. Countries worldwide are making progress towards more inclusive societies, with Ecuador legalising same-sex marriage and Botswana decriminalising gay sex. This Pride Month , we spoke to Ludovic-Mohamed Zahed, a gay Algerian imam who founded Europe's first inclusive mosque 10 years ago. He told us about the challenges he and many other young LGBTI Muslims face, and how societies can be made to be more inclusive.