Are You This? Or Are You This? - On being LGBTQI+ & Muslim
Featured Speakers
Madian Al Jazerah and Saleem Haddad
Madian Al Jazerah is a Palestinian Jordanian who was born in Kuwait. In 1997 Madian opened Amman’s Books@cafe, the first internet cafe/bookstore in the Arab world. Since its founding he has been engaged in human rights work and LGBTQI activism.
It is a true joy to welcome Madian Al Jazerah (remotely) for a launch of Are You This? Or Are You This? - a frank and moving memoir about about being a LGBTQI+ Muslim. Al Jazerah doesn't shy away from the often silenced questions in today's Arab world: sexuality, identity and belonging and the struggle against patriarchy, power, and society’s efforts to fit us into neat boxes. It is a book about community and kin in the Arab world and beyond.
Fittingly, and thrillingly, our host for the evening is Saleem Haddad, author of the award-winning, breathtaking novel Guapa..
Our two writers will be unpacking the book, celebrating queer Arab history and sharing insights on love, identity, and much more. We hope you can join us!
About the book:
When Madian Al Jazerah came out to his Arab parents, his mother had one question. ‘Are you this?’ she asked, cupping her hand. ‘Or are you this?’ she motioned with a poking finger. If you’re the poker, she said, you aren’t a homosexual.
For Madian, this opposition reveals not who he is, but patriarchy, power, and society’s efforts to fit us into neat boxes. He is Palestinian, but wasn’t raised in Palestine. He is Kuwaiti-born, but not Kuwaiti. He’s British-educated, but not a Westerner. He’s a Muslim, but can’t embrace the Islam of today. He’s a gay man, out of the closet but still living in the shadows: he has left Jordan, his home, three times in fear of his life.
Madian has searched for acceptance and belonging around the world, joining new communities in San Francisco, New York, Hawaii and Tunisia, yet always finding himself pulled back to Amman. This frank and moving memoir narrates his battles with adversity, racism and homophobia, and a rich life lived with humour, dignity and grace.
