SQIFF
As the Scottish Queer International Film Festival returns, Katie Goh speaks to Hidaya, an organisation hosting a programme of fi lms and discussions in an attempt to make the voices of
LGBTQ+ Muslim people heard
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T his year, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival celebrates its fi fth edition with its most impressive line-up to date. The fi ve-day festival features a variety of themed sections including strands focusing on gay men and online dating, disability and queerness, a VR and interactive showcase the Glasgow Women’s Libarary and a curated short fi lm programme followed by discussions on queerness and Islam. This latter strand is being co-hosted by Hidaya, a volunteer- run organisation that provides support for hundreds of LGBTQ+ Muslims around the UK and abroad.
in partnership with
‘What we try to do is give a voice to the voiceless,’ explains one of its organisers on the phone, choosing to remain anonymous. ‘Many predominantly Muslim countries around the world don’t accept LGBTQ+ people and in the UK, as well, a lot of LGBTQ+ Muslims struggle with their faith and identity – people like myself; I’m still not out to my family and I’m in my 40s. So the struggle is sometimes invisible within the LGBTQ+ community itself. We’re fi ghting two battles really. We’re trying to show people that we exist to both Muslim and LGBTQ+ communities.’ Hidaya are hoping that co-hosting a programme of short fi lms with SQIFF will help raise awareness of an often forgotten intersection of the LGBTQ+ community. ‘We’re hoping to show fi lms that highlight the plight and experiences of LGBTQ+ Muslims so this will give a voice to people who don’t always get a voice within the LGBTQ+ community. People think the LGBTQ+ community is all rainbows and unicorns and everybody is accepting but the reality can be different. When I fi rst came out into the gay community, I was rejected by the community and it was a very racist experience for me. It put me back in the closet which led me to deny my sexuality. I don’t want to be part of that community that didn’t accept me and, as a result, it had a knock-on effect on my mental health.’ >>
1 Sep–31 Oct 2019 THE LIST 31