Deenah al-Aqsa

The Queer Muslim Project is amplifying LGBTQ+ voices globally

The Queer Muslim Project is a network of linked activists fighting to rewrite outdated narratives around queerness and community.

Hijab Butch Blues: Book review - Lacuna Magazine

The memoir Hijab Butch Blues sees writer Lamya H navigate hierarchies as a queer nonbinary Muslim. Fellow queer Muslim hijabi writer Deenah al-Aqsa reviews.

Resisting tokenism, and why "write what you know" has its limits

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs a play centred around an inclusive choir for queer women who meet each week in a community centre in Dean Street, ran for six weeks at Soho Theatre this summer. The state of that centre - with a leaking roof and no ramp for member Fi, who is disabled - foreshadows the disintegration of the group later in the play.

We can't forget the role of class in the queer struggle

As the cost of living soars, I'm reminded of how my socioeconomic status has impacted my queer journey. For me, class and queerness feel like two sides of the same coin. Queer identities don't exist in a vacuum; terms and conditions are attached. My hometown is one of the most deprived in the country.

Being a closeted queer Muslim journalist is like being a superhero - secret identity and all

Being a closeted queer Muslim journalist is a bit like being a superhero. My hijab is my cape, and hiding my queerness from family feels like I'm wearing a mask. Most importantly, I mean it when I say no one can know my secret.

I won't ever be able to come out - I've made peace with that

Though it's often understood as a queer rite of passage, coming out is not for everyone. Far from being the basis for earning or keeping your gay card, I see coming out as a Western social construct. Coming out narratives emphasise the individual, typically white experience.

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs preaches to the choir, but still hits the right notes

In The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, playwright Iman Qureshi uses the conflict and comic relief of a ragtag lesbian choir to ask important questions about inclusivity, safety and solidarity for queer women. I've never felt as seen or as heard as when I watched The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, a comedy featuring a lesbian choir eager to sing at Pride.

Epic new comedy wants to do for lesbians what It's a Sin did for gay men

Iman Qureshi's new comedy, The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, promises to explore "deeper questions of lesbian visibility". Qureshi was inspired to write her play, which is playing at the Soho Theatre until 11 June, after seeing an uptick in projects about gay men - but not about lesbians.

حمد (hamd) by Deenah Al-Aqsa

The title of this poem, حمد (Hamd), is Arabic for "praise". It's about faith and God and family, in an attempt to be more optimistic about the future of the ummah. I hope you enjoy!

Non-binary footballer 'told they shouldn't be allowed on women's team'

Footballers have spoken out after a trans non-binary player was reportedly told they should not be allowed to play in a "women's league". The Football Association's policy on trans players has come under scrutiny after an official with the local grassroots league, Super 5, reportedly said a trans non-binary football player "should not be allowed to play in a 'women's league'".

The London Faith and Community Awards 2021

Alhamdulillah, Hidayah won an award this week! The London Faith and Community Awards, to be exact. This is a big deal. So much of the time, being a queer Muslim means feeling excluded from religious spaces for being too queer, and not quite fitting into queer spaces for being a person of faith.

EastEnders helped me accept that I'm a LGBT Muslim - but I can't tell my family

When I watch EastEnders with my family, they know Iqra Ahmed is my favourite character. First introduced as 'no-nonsense, bold and intelligent', Iqra is just like me. She often provokes the ire of those around her, including her relatives, yet she also wants her family's approval.

Working Under the Presumption of Straightness

Let me give it to you straight - after a year of working from home, I've come to realise that it's really hard for in-person work to be a safe space for queer people. In fact, I dread to think of the...

Deenah al-Aqsa: #ProuderTogether with Hidayah LGBTQI

During Pride Season, we are celebrating the ways we are #ProuderTogether. Deenah from Hidayah talks about how the organisation provides visibility, information, and community support to queer Muslims. 'Beautifully led by and for LGBTQ+ Muslims, with news, stories, links to other parts of the queer community such as film festivals and spoken word events, I happily recommend Hidayah to anyone who seeks an intersectional view of sexual orientation/gender identity and faith.

On Bengali Heritage, Poetry and Queerness

A literary essay exploring cultural heritage, religion and queerness through poetry. Poets discussed include Nayyirah Waheed, Warsan Shire, Abu Nuwas, Hafez and Rumi, among others.

Bend It Like Beckham Could Have Been Queerer, But It Still Aged Well

Much like the bunches of dhaniya (coriander) that Mrs Bhamra asks her daughters to buy, Bend It Like Beckham is a cultural staple for my generation. As a Desi child watching it for the first time in the noughties, it was a relief to finally see a protagonist who resembled me.

Let's Stop Glorifying Cops and the Military in Comics - Even if They're Queer BIPOC | AZ Magazine

As a queer Muslim woman of colour witnessing a raging pandemic and racial reckoning, I've frequently been left wanting when it comes to stories of heroism.Finding characters who are even remotely like me (queer and/or BIPOC) is difficult. Finding heroes who fit this bill is even harder.

What's in a Name?

My name is Deenah al-Aqsa. Nearly two years ago now, I chose something monumental to my career, and to my identity. In June 2019, I decided to write anonymously about being a queer Muslim for the first time, and that meant choosing a new name.

Instead of idealising people like Tom Moore, let’s hold politicians to account for their failures

Today Captain Tom Moore died from COVID-19, and tributes have been pouring in from all over in honour of him, including the Prime Minister and the Queen. Of course my condolences are with his family, just like they are for the families of every single person who has died from coronavirus in the world. But his passing also illustrates a wider trend that I keep seeing.

Issue 6 (Digital) - Lumpen: A journal for poor and working class writers | Class Work

Lumpen: A Journal of Poor and Working-Class writing is exactly what it sounds like. First hand accounts of lives on the rock face of austerity, critical assessments of the state of the left, the UK, and the international.

Not to piss in anyone's presidential cornflakes, but having the appearance of precautions isn't...

For many months, probably since the pandemic started, I've been following American politics quite closely from my side of the pond. And don't get me wrong - I'm glad that orange buffoon is out of the White House, even if Biden is taking his place rather than Bernie Sanders, who was my preferred candidate by a mile.

Gynaecology's obsession with 'virginity' fails queer Muslims - The Femedic

I'm a Muslim lesbian. Over the past year while seeking gynaecological care, I've encountered numerous medical professionals who have had an absurd obsession with my sex life. My journey started like that of countless others suffering pelvic pain. After several instances of excruciating pain during and around my periods, I went to my GP and asked to be referred to a gynaecologist.

An open letter to the Desi community on colourism and anti-Blackness

As the Black Lives Matter movement gains momentum, what can non-Black people of colour do to address their own colourism and racial bias? Deenah al-Aqsa says now is the time to amplify Black voices. In recent weeks, the Black Lives Matter movement has been gaining momentum, not just in America where the protests originated, but around the world.

"I was a homophobic teenager before I realised I was gay" | Lacuna Magazine

Like many LGBT people across the UK, this year's spate of homophobic attacks has left me hurting. It's also forced me to reflect on my past, as I've noticed a worrying pattern with these incidents - the involvement of young people...

From an outsider: The reality of being lesbian and Muslim

Protests against Birmingham's Anderton Park Primary School's 'No Outsiders' programme have raised questions about how Muslims and the LGBT community can co-exist. Our writer's life straddles that divide. My identity as a Muslim lesbian is one that I will continue to keep close to my chest.

Faith & Queerness - Deenah Al Aqsa

Listen to this episode from Really Queer on Spotify. Deenah is a Programs Officer for Hidayah LGBTQI+, an award-winning registered UK charity dedicated to queer Muslims. Her important work for Hidayah primarily focuses on its events, which aim to create safe spaces for Queer Muslims to meet each other and share experiences.

Queer Religion by Frances Marshall

This London-based collection created by photographer Frances Marshall, spotlights and celebrates prominent queer leaders in religion.

6 stories spotlighting the queer experience for #PrideMonth - Lacuna Magazine

With rising cynicism and hostility toward the LGBTQIA+ communities, Lacuna is highlighting the stories of queer communities for Pride Month.

Women in the UK Are Being Denied Medical Treatment Because They're Virgins

VICE World News has spoken to women who say healthcare professionals told them they couldn't receive internal examinations because they weren't sexually active, going against ultrasound guidelines in Britain.

Darryl Peers: Aberdeenshire poetry anthology celebrates diverse, rural communities

Readers turning the opening pages of Re.creation: A Queer Poetry Anthology will find that the book has been published from somewhere not often associated with the literary scene: Tarland, Aberdeenshire. Duncan Lockerbie, director of Stewed Rhubarb Press, is happy that an anthology of poetry by LGBTQ+ writers is associated with Tarland.

Nicky Campbell - 07/02/2022 - BBC Sounds

Catch up on your favourite BBC radio show from your favourite DJ right here, whenever you like. Listen without limits with BBC Sounds.

Meet the Hidayah Team!

Hey! I’m Deenah. I’m a journalist and poet, and I started volunteering for Hidayah after being approached by Shelina, the Chair. I’ve written about being a Muslim lesbian in several publications, including the Metro, AZ Magazine and Lacuna Magazine. Before finding Hidayah, I didn’t really have a safe space to be entirely and comfortably myself. As a hijabi and practicing Muslim, it continues to frustrate me seeing queer spaces dominated by alcohol. But also, conversely, as a queer woman...

Contributors - Re·creation Anthology

Runner Up for Opinion and Comment Category

Emilie Filou - Buzzing Christina Newland - Sisters Under The Mink Jonathan Nunn - Vittles Tahmina Begum - The Aram Marisa Bate - Writing By Women Chris Baraniuk - The Nature Gatherer The winner of Freelance Newsletter of the Year will be award a £250 prize.

9 important, enraging and inspiring human rights stories from 2020

In a year like no other what have we learned about ourselves and what our communities could become? We've braved the unchartered waters of a global pandemic and witnessed the uprising of the Black Lives Matter movement. We have mourned the world that once was, and, at times, dared to imagine a better future.

International Women's Day: 6 stories from young writers fighting injustice

On International Women's Day this collection of journalism, poetry and fiction celebrates writers aged 14 to 25, calling out racism and homophobia, and examining the impact of austerity and the criminal justice system. We're proud to work with young writers, supporting students in high school, sixth-form and university, as well as new freelancers, to write about the human rights issues that matter to them.

8 uplifting human rights stories of 2019 | Lacuna Magazine

In a year of political uncertainty and polarised opinion the outlook has often felt bleak. But from the gloom inspiring tales have emerged of grassroots action, of communities determined to continue despite conflict, and of refugees rebuilding their lives and helping others.

Lacuna Magazine's fifth anniversary: The most popular stories since our launch

It's five years since Lacuna Magazine was founded. In that time, we've published stories from around the world, covering food poverty, migration, environment, equality, protest and more - all centred on human rights and social justice. Here's a collection of our most popular stories to date, written by students, journalists, academics and activists.

Parliamentary debate on LGBT acceptance in schools quotes Lacuna Magazine

Amid this week's drama in the Houses of Parliament, a Commons debate heard our writer's moving testimony of growing up both lesbian and Muslim While the proroguing of Parliament, the rebellion against a no-deal Brexit and the resignation of Speaker John Bercow have dramatically divided MPs this week, one cross-party debate resulted in rare unity, when MPs discussed the subject of LGBT acceptance in schools.

Digital engagement with the LGBT community

The Digital Engagement Team ran a Facebook discussion card, inviting those with experience of LGBT issues to suggest how the Government should react.

The Ramadan Rainbow

Three queer Muslims (Osman, Ayesha and Deenah) speak to presenter Steff about Ramadan.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health Hour: Support for LGBTQ+Muslims 10th June 2021

Lancashire LGBT has started a new Mental Health Hour series looking at how we as LGBTQ+ people can manage our mental health. Our support worker Beth Meadows will host the conversation with Osman and Deenah from Hidayah on Mind, Body, Spirt: a Queer Muslim perspective.

Screening of Gayrabia

As part of LGBT+ history month join Hidayah and Director Kareem Sleem for a Q&A and screening of his documentary Gayrabia. @kareemsleem

LGBT+ Visibility during Ramadan

In partnership with Hidayah LGBT+ , we discuss LGBT+ visibility during Ramadan.This event will be streamed on our Facebook and YouTube channel at 6pm on Frid...