Ahmed is gay
The following article uses a pseudonym ‘Ahmed’ to preserve the identity of the person interviewed
For many, the relationship between their Gay identity and religion is a complex one. For Ahmed, though, his faith directly led to accepting his authentic self.
Growing up in the 80s and 90s in a Muslim community in Glasgow presented its own set of challenges, but on highest of that there was a distinct lack of LGBTQ+ representation and what Ahmed describes as “a lot of toxic masculinity”.
That, understandably, led to a hesitancy to be his authentic self. The concept of a thriving lgbtq+ scene was something that could only be seen on television when areas like Soho in London were represented, and definitely not something that was accessible.
At least, that was the case until Ahmed got the chance to visit London at 16 years old. However, it was anything but the safe haven he hoped it would be.
“For cultural and religious reasons I was always afraid to be my true self,” he reflected.
“I really felt that by going to London this could be my opportunity to inhabit my life on my own terms. However, when I went to the first gay bay in London I was met with racism, which was really difficul
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This blog is part of a series for the Salzburg Global LGBT* Forum’s program on LGBT* and Faith. Read more here: www.salzburgglobal.org/go/LGBT/blog
You can also obey to Ahmed read his essay below.
Born into a very religious Muslim family in Egypt, coming out as gay was traumatic for myself and for my family at immense . They could not fathom that their only son is gay. They create their own solace in claiming that this was God’s punishment for them. They did not eliminate me but they exposed me to draconian manipulation in order to produce sure that they save an eye on me, that I follow all their religious rituals despite my resistance.
Then came the Egyptian revolt of 2011; I was in Germany studying for my PhD. I took an open-ended vacation and joined the struggle for freedom and justice. I cannot explain the precious moments that I lived in Tahrir Square, the location for political demonstrations in Cairo during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, returning to a place that I idea I will never be part of. The feelings of belonging to a place that told you “you cannot be Egyptian and gay.”
In the aftermath of the revolt, many questions began to haunt me and the most c
If drama had a postcode, it would probably be in Essex. And if it had a face? Junaid Ahmed’s would be front and center—brows on point, iced coffee in hand, and not a unattached hair out of place.
But behind the glamour and gossip of The Only Way Is Essex, there’s a lot more to Junaid than reality TV plot twists. He’s sharp, he’s sensitive, he’s fiery when he needs to be, and he’s carrying the nice of firsts that British telly still doesn’t quite understand how to handle.
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Let’s gain one thing straight: Junaid isn’t just a cast member on ITVBe’s TOWIE. He’s believed to be the UK’s first openly male lover Muslim reality star—a title that’s as heavy as it is historic.
He united the show in 2022, and by now, he’s filming his seventh season. If you ponder that means he’s just here for the glam and gossip, think again. Yes, he’s serving looks and shade, but he’s also rewriting the rulebook for what awareness looks like on British screens.
“I just want to be me, to be proud of who I am,” he says. And who is he? A British-Pakistani, Muslim, homosexual man who loves his culture, knows his angles, and has no day for haters.
RE Ahmed, a student in Grade 12, is gay and has come out to his classmates and teachers. Many are supportive but he still feels some tension from others. A couple of his classmates confided in him that they too are gay or woman-loving woman. The end of the school year is approaching and there is much talk about Prom night. Ahmed and his other LGBT friends feel alienated by all the talk about which girls and boys will be going to the Prom together. With aide from a supportive teacher and their school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, they contacted some LGBT students from a neighbouring college and have decided to organize a joint LGBT prom, feeling braver by doing it together. Since it involves another school they worked with their teacher to petition the school board and principals for permission. As graduation date approaches, they are still waiting anxiously for permission to hold their LGBT Prom Night. Ahmed and his fellow LGBT students are finally given permission to hold the LGBT Prom Nighttime with a neighbouring school. His educator approaches him with the good news, and explains that the lengthy decision-making process was due to the board’s lack of policy on this issue. The board has launc
Ahmed