Forum looks at plight of gay Muslims

What does it mean to be a gay Muslim? Is it even possible to be both?

Given the repressive nature of Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, why would any self-respecting gay man or woman want to be a Muslim?

Those are some of the troubling questions raised by filmmaker Parvez Sharma's new documentary, A Jihad for Love, which tells the stories of more than a dozen gay and lesbian Muslims scattered across the globe from South Africa to Iran, Cairo to Paris, all of whom reaffirm their devotion to Islam, a religion that seems anathema to many of their Western friends and lovers.

"Everyone in the film is coming out as a Muslim as opposed to coming out as a gay person," Sharma said.

His film will be screened tomorrow at the Prince Music Theater in Center City as part of the 16th annual Equality Forum, a civil rights symposium and festival for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities taking place across the city daily through Sunday.

 Forum looks at plight of gay Muslims
Philadelphia Inquirer, PA