Kulturkampf

[benji]

On LGBTQ issues, my fellow Muslims should balance faith with solidarity

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I recently spoke with Omar on my SiriusXM show about Hamtramck banning the Pride flag. Omar began by saying that she will always defend people who are mocked for their religious beliefs. But she added that as a “marginalized community” we Muslims cannot “punch down” by joining in the hate directed against other marginalized communities. Referring to the LGBTQ community, she said correctly, “Solidary for us has been lifesaving, and that solidary needs to exist for others whose lives need to be protected.”

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But leaders in Hamtramck have shown little interest in the solidarity that Omar says it’s important to maintain with other marginalized groups. In a response that illustrated the political divide in the Muslim community, Tlaib slammed the decision made by Hamtramck officials. According to the Detroit Free Press, she said, “I can’t imagine how it feels for our LGBTQ+ neighbors in Hamtramck to watch their own elected reps decide their existence doesn’t matter.” She added, “This is painful to see in a city that has always fought for equal justice for all. This action divides our communities.”

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According to the Detroit Free Press, ahead of the June 13 vote to remove the Pride flag, City Councilman Nayeem Choudhury said of the LGBTQ community, "You guys are welcome ... (but) why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? You’re already represented. We already know who you are. ... By making this (about) bigotry ... it’s making it like you want to hate us.”

Worse, Ghalib made it a campaign issue to remove the Pride flag that the previous mayor, who was not Muslim, had raised. Using the language of neutrality makes him no less wrong than the Republicans who’ve sought to ban Pride flags to exploit anti-LGBTQ sentiment for their political advantage.

The Muslim parents in Montgomery County who want the right to keep their children out of classes when LGBTQ books or topics are being discussed say they simply want input into what their children should learn and are not seeking to ban LGBTQ themed books, as Republicans have done in numerous states. Rather, as one Muslim parent told The Washington Post, “None of us are anti-LGBT; none of us hold any hatred toward them. We want to be able to introduce our children to these sensitive topics which are intertwined with our faith in a very sensitive way.”

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Even if they see the awfulness of Moms for Liberty and even if they say they’re not opposed to LGBTQ people, I disagree with my fellow Muslims who are choosing to withdraw their children from certain lessons. Because the purpose of “inclusive books,” as the school board explained, is “to support a student’s ability to empathize, connect, and collaborate with diverse peers and encourage respect for all.” Imagine how we’d feel if people demanded the right to “opt out” their children when lessons plans call for them to read books that tell the stories of Muslims and could have the effect of destroying hate-filled myths and stereotypes about us.

We Muslims must always call out hate and bigotry, especially from members of our own communities. To me, banning the Pride flag to score political points is trafficking in bigotry.

At the same time, those dismissing concerned Muslim parents who are trying to negotiate their faith and their children’s education as “puppets” should take a lesson from Omar. Be respectful of these parents' sincerely held religious beliefs while appealing to the reality that as Muslims we are a marginalized community and need to stand with others in need, just as they stood with us. The bigots of the right will again demonize us when it helps their own political agenda. Who is going to stand with us then if we turn our backs on others in need now?

Literally asking them to sin out of "solidarity" with infidels and dhimmis.