The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights (CSBR) is an international solidarity network that supports sexual and bodily rights in Muslim contexts across Asia through feminist knowledge building, strategic convenings, and strengthening activists’ capacities and resources.
In Muslim-majority regions, LGBTQI people often face a particular challenge when trying to navigate faith and identity. LGBTQI identities are frequently portrayed as “Western” or incompatible with local traditions, leaving individuals feeling torn between their spiritual beliefs and their sense of self. Ahmad (a pseudonym*), a gay Muslim man from a conservative SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) country, found himself in this position, excluded from his religious community because of his sexuality whilst also feeling unwelcome in LGBTQI spaces that sometimes viewed religion as oppressive.
CSBR recognised the need to create spaces where LGBTQI people could explore how their faith and identity might coexist. The organisation wanted to challenge the assumption that faith and LGBTQI identities are fundamentally incompatible, instead showing that inclusive faith practices could offer a path forward.
CSBR organised a regional workshop that brought together LGBTQI activists, religious scholars, and community leaders from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the SWANA region. The workshop was designed to address the specific challenges LGBTQI people face when trying to reconcile their identities with religious contexts. Rather than dismissing cultural and religious concerns, CSBR took a culturally sensitive approach that connected human rights principles with local traditions and beliefs.
For Ahmad, the workshop was transformative. He connected with a supportive network of LGBTQI Muslims and allies who shared similar experiences. As Rahman, a coordinator at CSBR, notes: “For many LGBTQI people of faith, reclaiming their faith is an act of healing.” Ahmad gained access to resources that helped him reinterpret his faith in ways that embraced rather than rejected his identity, along with practical strategies for navigating both aspects of himself.
The change in Ahmad’s life went beyond his own experience. Drawing on what he had learnt at the workshop, he began running small discussion groups in his local community, creating spaces where LGBTQI people of faith could share their experiences and support each other.
Ahmad’s story shows the wide reaching impact of CSBR’s work. His journey from feeling isolated to becoming someone who helps others navigate similar challenges demonstrates how targeted support can spark ongoing change in local communities.
*Name changed for privacy