Living Out Islam by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle

I was riveted in following the details of their efforts to overcome the conflict of competing identities.'-Aminia Wadud,Starr King School for the Ministry, 'As is the case with followers of other religious traditions, Muslims today are engaged in a passionate debate over gender and sexuality. Living Out Islam provides fascinating biographies of Muslims facing both homophobia and Islamophobia in the context of modern secular democratic nation-states and creates a platform for LBGTQ Muslims to speak for themselves about their lives and struggles. 'An excellent contribution to the emerging literature on LBGTQ Muslims. This nascent movement is not about being 'out' as opposed to being 'in the closet.' Rather, as the voices of these activists demonstrate, it is about finding ways to live out Islam with dignity and integrity, reconciling their sexuality and gender with their faith and reclaiming Islam as their own. It weaves original interviews with Muslim activists into a compelling composite picture which showcases the importance of the solidarity of support groups in the effort to change social relationships and achieve justice.

So that's how I became an activist.' Living Out Islam documents the rarely-heard voices of Muslims who live in secular democratic countries and who are gay, lesbian, and transgender. I wanted to help other people to get there. I was completely comfortable saying to the world that I'm gay and I'm Muslim. But I've managed, because of my in-depth relationship with God, to reconcile the two. 'I realized that I'm not alone-these people are going through the very same things that I'm going through.

This, according to Muhsin, is why he had to act. Islam and homosexuality are seen by many as deeply incompatible. 2015 Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award presented by the Stonewall Books Awards of the American Library Association Muhsin is one of the organizers of Al-Fitra Foundation, a South African support group for lesbian, transgender, and gay Muslims.

Living Out Islam by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle