Better Muslim Than Gay

Lately I've been hearing a lot about how much my people are under attack in America today. The thing is, though, as an American Muslim, I don't really feel under attack. Annoyed? Sure. But attacked? No.

Despite all the controversy surrounding the construction of the Park51 Center in downtown Manhattan, for example, the fact remains that it will still be built. Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama have both staunchly defended our right to build it and most of the center's most vociferous opponents have either never set foot in Manhattan or belong to some extremist political or religious group -- the exact same kind of group from which they claim to be "protecting" Americans by protesting the construction of the center. In short, no matter how loudly these bigots protest or how viciously they insult us, we still have the law and our leaders on our side.

Meanwhile, I just had lunch with a friend who can't even get married or serve openly in the military in this country, who has nowhere near the same 14th Amendment equal protection rights that I do as a Muslim American woman, and who can no longer afford his HIV medications because his social security payments are too high for him to qualify for Medicaid. Just like me, my friend is an American citizen, but unlike me, he doesn't share the same rights and privileges that said citizenship ought to guarantee.

Given the option, my Muslim faith teaches me to fight blatant injustice over irritating bombast any day, so today, that means that my friend's predicaments take some serious precedence over my own. I don't care how loudly or callously people insult me, so long as they can't control or significantly restrict my rights in a way where I have no legitimate means of legal recourse.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that it's easy being a Muslim American today. Far from it. What I am saying, however, is that as a Muslim American, my obligation is to defend the rights of the most marginalized and persecuted citizens living in my great country -- and as it stands, despite all the nasty name-calling, I'm not one of those citizens.

It is from this position of relative privilege that I sense a strong religious and civic obligation to address the most pressing injustices that face our nation today and beseech the rest of my community to do the same. I know that many Muslims, as well as Jews and Christians, may think that homosexuality is wrong based on their readings of their religious texts. And while I wholeheartedly disagree with them, I still appeal to them to follow the greater teachings of our respective faiths. Is it not a greater sin to deny people their basic human and civil rights based on an alleged sin that only God is qualified to judge?

As a Muslim, it is my sacred duty to promote peace, justice and compassion above all other moral values, and as such, I am obligated to fight for the rights of the most persecuted among us. Likewise, as an American citizen and an attorney who has taken a solemn oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution, I feel equally bound to concentrate my energies where they are most urgently needed.

So, in keeping with the lessons of my respective legal and religious educations, I hope you'll forgive me if I ignore the epithets directed at me and my people for now and focus on fighting for my friend's right to marry his partner, share his health insurance, serve his country with honor and enjoy all the basic civil liberties that I already do.

 

Follow Melody Moezzi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MelodyMoezzi

Comments

[riff4u]

12:22 AM on 09/27/2010

"Better Muslim than gay." Well I don't know. GWB's campaign manager just came out as gay and he now supports gay marriage...........and now he is going to go after all those evil Muslims. WTF?

[kenhamlett]

08:47 PM on 09/24/2010

I applaud Ms. Moezzi. She brings great good sense to this debate. For weeks, I have been concerned that people on the HP show selective concern about the rights of others. On any story involving any ugly act of bigotry toward Muslims, HP'ers are properly outraged. But, as a gay man, who is very critical of both the Democrats and Republicans on gay issues, I am regularly told on the HP to "consider myself lucky," "be more patient," or (my favorite just today) "sodomy is legal in some states" so why am I complaining. Last week, I visited the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta. It was a moving experience, and my feelings about bigotry and discrimination were reinforced. They are always wrong, and people who make excuses for them are always wrong. Ms. Moezzi understands this all too well. My favorite Dr. King saying is "Justice delayed is justice denied." It is just as true today as when he said it!

[starjack]

11:51 AM on 09/22/2010

As a poor cabdriver in Manhattan recently found out, there is real violence against Muslims, and as a gay, white Muslim in San Francisco I daresay I encounter a lot more Islamophobia than homophobia. Yes, more "annoying" than really "oppressive" but I do see and read about more obvious Muslims -- people with brown skin and "exotic" names -- being physically attacked, or harassed by cops and government agents, arrested and held without due process under the so-called "Patriot Act."

I respect and appreciate what you are saying here for and about gay people (and in later comments for transgendered folks) but without falling into the game of "who's more oppressed" it is important not to minimize the real fact that Muslim immigrants, their children and grandchildren, are also treated as second-class citizens, too often denied civil rights, and victims of hate crimes.

But thank you for reaching out with this statement. GLBT people and Muslims can and should work together -- along with other "minorities" for social justice.

[Edward Bell]

11:02 AM on 09/22/2010

A great article! It points out a tragic and ironic gap in our “natural inalienable rights”. Those rights that Jefferson borrow from John Locke over 234 years ago.

We are all obligated as U.S. citizens to insure the basic philosophical foundation of this country is true today. “All men are created equal” - every person, regardless of religion, sexual preference, economic status, etc. should have an even playing field.

I have am apart of no great minority. I am a white male whose family has been here since 1771. It is important that people in the “majority” and men such as myself take a passionate stand against any and all inequalities in our social system, legal system, etc.

Thank You for the article Melody.

[Manhajsadiqeen]

04:27 AM on 09/22/2010

Lastly, 'alleged sin' as you indicated in your article, the teaching of Islam says that sex outside the confines of marriage is sinful and a ticket to the hellfire. The prophet sws was our first judge and cases such as this of a sexual matter was judged by the prophet sws. Now, with that said, accordingly if two persons engage in same sex intercourse in private and these two persons did not reveal this, this sin is before Allah swt (Allah swt alam). We are taught that if a sin was done in private in remains in private! For revealing this sin is doubled according to Islamic jurisprudence. This is why I am curious to know if you are rejecting these tenets of Islam regarding same sex intercourse, sexual misadventures,etc? Again, if you would bring these cases to a shari'ah court, no Qadee (judge) would tell you that this is decision only Allah swt can delivery. There are precedence in Islam for rendering decisions based upon the Qur'an, ahadiths under crime and punishments and lastly by the actions of the prophet swt in handling forbidden sexual acts. It is dangerous and misleading what you write concerning Islam position on these issues, you are dead wrong. As an advocate yes, you defend these rights, you are obligated to do this. But to offer that these can of sexual sins are 'allegedly' wrong in Islam is dangerous. I suggest that you review these matters in the Qur'an and ahadiths.

[Shiresbusiness]

09:34 AM on 09/22/2010

I believe what she is saying is that we don't live in a country ruled by Islamic law. (Thank God, Allah, Buddha, The Great Big Eye, etc..)

[Souris9]

10:11 AM on 09/22/2010

So what the hell does all that supposedly have to do with U.S. law, hmmm?

[Manhajsadiqeen]

12:05 PM on 09/22/2010

The question was directed at the writer whom stated that she is a Muslimah. She made statements concerning her feelings that run contrary to Islamic thought. I wanted her to clarify what she wrote.

[Manhajsadiqeen]

03:42 AM on 09/22/2010

As Muslims we are entitled to fight for injustice but not at the expensive of our deen and religion. Helping others is sunnah but when we make comments and uphold beliefs that run contrary to Islamic tenets and values, this can cast that Muslim or Muslimah out as a Muslim. The ahadith of the prophet sws instructing the Muslimeen to try to change injustices with your hands if you have it within your power to do so; if not by speaking against it and finally by the heart which is the least form of fighting injustice. It is your job as an advocate to uphold standards under the US Constitution but in some instances in your article you are mixing the two, as a Muslim and as an attorney. If a Muslim rejects the shari'ah concerning sexual matters and what the prophet sws taught us concerning these matters, one cannot offer that this is sunnah as a Muslim to do. Every Islamic jurisprudence would declare that you are out as a Muslim. Can one still be a Muslim and openly engage in sexual practices that run contrary to Islamic values, yes and no! If a Muslim declares that they know it is wrong to engage in these sexual misadventures and regard it as sinful, they are merely sinful; to the contrary if the Muslim declares that they reject the tenets of Islam and considers it right to engage in this forbidden sexual acts, you are out as a Muslim

[MrVinegar]

11:15 AM on 09/22/2010

Thank you for pointing out that Islam is just as silly, retrogressive and hate-filled as Christianity and Judaism. Besides, everyone knows that Z-us is the true god. While I prefer believers such as the author over a fundamentalist any day their beliefs are still just as silly if not more so because you pick and choose what you want to believe.

[Manhajsadiqeen]

12:24 PM on 09/22/2010

You suggest that I am a fundamentalist. Any Muslims that follows the correct teachings of Islam is considered that in western terms. You are entitled to feel and say what you don't like about Islam. I have and will insha'A'llah do the same against the detractors of Islam. There is no such thing as picking and choosing tenets, this is an ignorant statement based upon western prejudice.

[starjack]

11:35 AM on 09/22/2010

"Charity" is one of the five pillars of faith. Judging peoples' sex life isn't.

All the Abrahamic faiths tell us that only God can judge the sins of others, and those of us who presume to do so are the surest to be damned. In the meantime we are to feed the poor, heal the ill, comfort the afflicted, and aid the oppressed.

The Qur`an was given to us by God. Even "Islamic" jurisprudence was created by men who served the political structures of their day. It would be foolish to dismiss out of hand the learned opinions of educated people, but neither should we revere those opinions as if they were in partnership with God,.

[Manhajsadiqeen]

12:20 PM on 09/22/2010

Well, charity is, but a guide by the prophet sws was sent down telling of what we should and should not do. There are laws and penalties when one goes against those laws, and the first judge was the prophet sws. So, you are wrong and don't try pulling that you know the pillars of Islam for if you did, you would not say what you have said. And, if you knew the Qur'an it is filled with references of illegal sex acts, whoredom and the such. The ultimate judge is Allah swt on the day of judgment but the Qur'an tells us to obey the commands that were given and fellow the messenger of Allah sws. And certainly, when these cases were brought before him, he judge and rendered decision. I suggest that you read sirat An Nisa (the woman). This surat is important and clarifies many details. Lastly, whoredom and homosexuality is still considered a crime based upon solid ahadiths that is codified by the Qur'an. And, if you review the ahadiths in the sections of Gates of or Books of punishments, judgments are in there and none sanctioned whoredom and sexual misadventures. Those persons engaged in these activities were caught, judgment was certainly delivered. Who are the Ulama? Muftis, Fighi, Muulana and many others? Do you know these names and what they do? None of these persons, even today sanction sexual misconduct!

[jwhoopi]

01:51 AM on 09/22/2010

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up. -Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

Thanks for standing up.

[NatalieRose Apar]

12:07 AM on 09/22/2010

Beautiful. Thank you for writing this.

[otimothy]

11:49 PM on 09/21/2010

Thank you.

[GodsHonestTruth]

09:40 PM on 09/21/2010

I dont buy your experience as an "annoyed" Muslim, as the average practicing Muslim's experience. I think a Sunni othodox family (or young man) living in Manhattan might have a different experience than some upper-middle class "Author, Speaker, Activist, Attorney" Iranian-American Shie.

Not condoning the Dont Ask Dont Tell, nor am I condemning it--i can understand both arguments. But your opening dismissal just rang hollow with me.

[Jdaddy1951]

08:49 PM on 09/21/2010

Thank you, Melody Moezzi, for your support of gay and lesbian people. Bigotry in any form is unacceptable.

[OnlinewithZoe]

08:11 PM on 09/21/2010

Thank you for this amazing post. I am so really moved by it. Thank goodness for thinkers like Kimberly Crenshaw have explained that we are composite beings; race, gender, sex, religion, class, age and true equality will only occur when we integrate internally and make it our reality. Proud to be your friend.
Zoe

[Nowmee Equality Shehab]

07:36 PM on 09/21/2010

Wow, this is a brilliant perspective on social challenges that the USA faces. Kudos

[Majestry]

04:54 PM on 09/21/2010

It could always be worse than being gay... you could always be transgendered. Then you are really at the bottom of the ladder.

[kosa0504]

09:35 PM on 09/21/2010

*transgender (no -ed)
True, sexuality is much more accepted than gender identity. Just think about something as basic as trying to go into a public restroom...

[Majestry]

11:31 PM on 09/21/2010

Indeed.

(thanks for the fix)

[Melody Moezzi]

10:41 PM on 09/21/2010

Certainly with you on how difficult it must be to be transgender or intersexed even...all the legal issues alone are just so overwhelming, not to mention the social stigma, etc.I didn't mean to overlook the experience...just as relevant indeed, and I'm a strong supporter of equal rights for ALL, including those with gender identity concerns. In short, nothing but love & respect. I'm in the fight with y'all as well :)

[Majestry]

11:31 PM on 09/21/2010

I'm not but, like I said, it could always be more difficult! With that said, I agree 100%

[Melody Moezzi]

04:46 PM on 09/21/2010

Thanks Stavros! Glad that was the first comment :)