Imaan

Social Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Muslims since 1998

Press Release 21^st January 2006

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWSDESK

GAY MUSLIMS OBJECT TO

NEGATIVE CHANNEL 4 PORTRAYAL

Imaan, the support group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Muslims are featured in the Channel 4 documentary Gay Muslims, produced by Love Productions, which is being broadcast on Monday, 23^rd January at 8.00pm.

Imaan wish to make it clear that its participation in the documentary was NOT made in partnership or consultation with the group – the largest and longest established LGBT Muslim group in the UK and Europe. Indeed Imaan tried very hard to obtain editorial input but Love Productions refused. Instead they appeared more interested, from the outset, in casting gay Muslims in a negative and inaccurate light.

Contrary to the angle of the documentary most of the LGBT Muslim community do not lead “tortuous, secret lives” but are happy balanced individuals who are supported by a growing LGBT Muslim community and increasingly by the wider gay AND Muslim communities in this country and abroad.

Imaan itself has been supporting LGBT Muslims since 1998. It has held three international conferences, took a pivotal role in the last London Gay Pride March in which it addressed a crowd of several thousand at Trafalgar Square and holds regular monthly meetings, Eid celebrations and Islamic study circles. Imaan also consistently challenges both homophobia and Islamaphobia wherever it exists and has a number of notable supporters including the Mayor of London, the Metropolitan Police and some senior figures within the wider Muslim community.

For this reason, Imaan would like to dispel the unhelpful and patronising myth that LGBT Muslims are wretched and weak which we believe Love Productions documentary has deliberately reinforced.

Imaan, PO Box 5369 London W1A 6SD

Email: info@imaan.org.uk Website: www.imaan.org.uk