Beg a gay Mlim man wh challeng. In this opn piece, Ri Jaspal discs what 's like to be a gay Mlim Ameri.
Contents:
- A GAY MLIM EASTENRS? BIG AL
- EASTENRS: MLIM CHARACTER TO HAVE GAY LOVE AFFAIR
- GAY MLIM STORY FOR EASTENRS
- EASTENRS TO FEATURE GAY MLIM STORYLE BUT MLIM GROUP LLS FOR A “NORMAL CHARACTER”
- "EASTENRS" URTS MORE GAY NTROVERSY BY OUTG A NEW MLIM {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRIAN JUERGENSMAY 29, 2009/11:19 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSMAY 29, 2009 / 11:19 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EASTENRS\" URTS MORE GAY NTROVERSY BY OUTG A NEW MLIM CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-05-29T15:19:06.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-05-29T15:19:06.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRIAN JUERGENS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOHN PARTRIDGE AND CARL FERGON LAST YEAR'S NTROVERSIAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY ABOUT THE RELATIVE STUTNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA OF VAR RELIG GROUPS, WH A RECENT STUDY SHOWG THAT MLIMS THE UK ARE LS TOLERANT OF HOMOSEXUALY THAN MLIMS OTHER PARTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SURPRISG, THEN, THAT THE LONG-NNG BR SOAP EASTENRS HAS RECENTLY TRODUCED A MLIM CHARACTER THAT WILL TURN OUT TO BE GAY. LS SURPRISG? MLIM GROUPS A'T TOO CHUFFED ABOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SPOILERY TAILS FOLLOW...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARC ELLT AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE SOAP IS SET TO OUT A CHARACTER NAMED SYED MASOOD, WHO ARRIVED WH A GIRLIEND BUT WILL SOON FALL FOR OPENLY GAY CHARACTER CHRISTIAN CLARKE (JOHN PARTRIDGE). MASOOD (WHO IS PLAYED BY MARC ELLT) WILL OF URSE BE NFLICTED ABOUT HIS FEELGS AND HIS RELIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MLIM AFFAIRS COMMTEE IS UPSET ABOUT THE CHOICE, AND HAS MA A STATEMENT THAT THE SHOW SHOULD STEAD PRENT A "NORMAL, IENDLY" MLIM CHARACTER. I'M NOT GETTG WHERE MASOOD ISN'T GOG TO BE IENDLY, AND HE'S FELY GOG TO BE IENDLY TO CHRISTIAN, AS THE TWO ARE SLATED TO SHARE AN ON-AIR KISS. LET'S NOT FET THAT LAST YEAR THE SHOW ED A STIR WHEN HAD CHRISTIAN KISS ANOTHER MAN, LEE (CARL FERGON), ON A PARKBENCH BROAD DAYLIGHT, STEAD OF AN ALLEY BEHD A DUMPSTER AT 4AM, WHERE KISSG GAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAVE ANY OF OUR UK REARS BEEN FOLLOWG THE SHOW LATELY? WHAT DO YOU THK OF ELLT TH FAR, AND ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE STORYLE? A SHOT THE ARM FOR DIVERSY, OR A RIPPED-OM-THE-HEADL STUNT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- WILL EASTENRS FANS FALL FOR WALFORD'S GAY MLIM?
- WHAT'S LIKE BEG A GAY MLIM?
- GAY MLIM STORYLE FOR ‘EASTENRS’
- WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE GAY AND A MLIM
- EASTENRS ACTOR: ‘GAY STORYLE IS SENSIVE AND BETIFUL’
- IS IQRA AHMED GAY EASTENRS AND WHO IS HER GIRLIEND?
A GAY MLIM EASTENRS? BIG AL
EastEnrs was the first place I me across the ncept of beg gay and Mlim, when I was around 14. * eastenders gay muslim *
Iqra was surprised at how readily her grandparents accepted her girliend, Ash – the realy for other queer Mlims may not be the same (Picture: BBC /Jack Barn)Due to what I had been raised and socialised to believe, I was certaly unwillg to accept that beg gay and Mlim was possible when the storyle was first troduced. Memorable LGBTQ moments EastEnrs historyEastEnrs has been on our screens for more than 35 years – that time, the Walford-based soap has bee one of Bra’s most inic TV s but 1985, EastEnrs has never shied away om hard-htg storyl and has been at the foreont of LGBTQ reprentatn on Bize tak a look at some of the most memorable LGBTQ moments om the BBC One show’s gay kiss on a Brish soapCol Rsell was the first gay character on EastEnrs, appearg Albert Square jt over a year after the show’s first by Michael Cashman, there was ntroversy at the time when Col kissed boyiend Barry Clark (Gary Hail) 1987 – even though was jt a peck on the (Michael Cashman) and Barry (Gary Hall) were EastEnrs' first gay years later, Col and new character Guido Smh (Nicholas Donovan) shared the first mouth-to-mouth kiss on a Brish soap – an timated 17 ln people tuned to watch the uple’s beme one of the most ground-breakg scen soap history – but was emed so ntroversial that some MPs lled for the soap to be pulled om the air. Syed tells Christian he is gay and love wh him – but unr prsure om his fay, gets married to feelgs for Christian prove too strong – so Syed out.
Mick held his teenage son his arms to liver a tear-jerkg speech, tellg Johnny that he loved him and there was nothg bad about beg gay, supportg him to e out through both of their stifled Carter (played by Sam Strike, send om left) and dad Mick (Danny Dyer, centre) both ma their first appearanc the soap December ’s mother Lda (Kellie Bright) ially stggled wh his sexualy – but the pair eventually make up as she tak him to his first Pri event where he meets new boyiend Gianlu Cavallo (Gabriele Lombardo) transgenr character played by transgenr actorKyle Slater’s arrival Albert Square was a landmark moment for marked the first time Brish soap history that a transgenr character had been played by a transgenr actor, wh Riley Carter Millgton takg on the historic ’s first appearanc showed him followg Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) before he later reveals he is her long-lost half-brother and the pair ultimately sharg his story wh Stacey, Kyle reveals that his mother Alison (Denise Welch) has never seen him as a man.
EASTENRS: MLIM CHARACTER TO HAVE GAY LOVE AFFAIR
<strong>Samia Rahman:</strong> An EastEnrs storyle featurg a gay Mlim character is unlikely to shake the muny, spe what some are predictg * eastenders gay muslim *
Walford’s first Gay PriIn July 2019, Walford threw s first-ever Gay Pri event, wh an episo tacklg a number of LGBTQ ahead of London’s Gay Pri event, the episo was seen as celebratory, diverse and tnal, but also clud moments that remd the dience of the prejudice and discrimatn still faced by the LGBTQ muny to this the inic episo, Bernatte Taylor (Clair Norris) embrac her sexualy while celebratg her first Pri, havg e out as a lbian to her mother six months earlier, while Callum Highway (Tony Clay) stggl to e to terms wh his new, also known as Halfway, was engaged to Whney Dean (Shona McGarty) at the time of Pri and was helpg to get everythg anised for the big event. But he was mortified when brother Stuart (Ricky Champ) turned up and told him he saw him kissg Ben Mchell (Max Bown) the night 's been que the journey for Ben Mchell (Max Bown, pictured) and Callum Highway (Tony Clay), who recently got engaged the the urse of te love didn’t always n smoothly for Callum and Ben – Stuart beat up Ben later the Pri episo - the fan favoure duo went on to bee a uple, wh the pair eventually proposg to each other on the balny of lol gay bar The Prce Albert.
When I first read that the BBC soap opera EastEnrs was gearg up for a storyle volvg a Mlim man lockg lips wh a gay character my first reactn was, who watch EastEnrs anymore anyway and well, how about that for a sensatnalist stunt to w a tired old soap some headl while sendg the rightwg tabloids to a enzy at the gay-Mlim I uld almost anticipate the ensug chatter, likely to lament the over-exposure of Mlims who are eher beg panred to by the PC briga or displayg hot-head overreactn at the slightt far so predictable. News of the plot jt weeks after a Gallup survey was wily reported as revealg that Brish Mlims have a 0% approval ratg of gay liftyl. The tth is that while the issue of homosexualy Islam is one that preoccupi many non-Mlims, is not a fg aspects of belief for the majory of Mlims.
The Mlim muny would do well to work towards seeg homosexualy not as somethg to be for or to be agast, but rather as a fact of life.
GAY MLIM STORY FOR EASTENRS
Mlim property veloper to share kiss wh gay terer 'tradnal love affair wh a morn multicultural twist'. By <strong>Leigh Holmwood</strong> and <strong>Gareth McLean</strong> * eastenders gay muslim *
Bee that is exactly what is for gay Mlims, whether they act upon their feelgs or pretend that homosexualy do not exist wh the Mlim muny Bra is lud. Explorg sexualy outsi marriage is an tensely personal experience and any portrayal a soap opera of a Mlim embarkg on a homosexual affair is likely to attract accatns of opportunism, particularly wh Mlims already feelg so negatively may be worth Mlims holdg fire and not givg their tractors the satisfactn of reactg as might be expected.
EASTENRS TO FEATURE GAY MLIM STORYLE BUT MLIM GROUP LLS FOR A “NORMAL CHARACTER”
EastEnrs is to tackle a storyle which will feature a Mlim man embarkg upon a gay affair, the BBC says. * eastenders gay muslim *
EastEnrs is to tackle one of the last taboos left soap, wh a storyle featurg a Mlim character embarkg on a gay love n reveal that the plot, which will h screens mid-June, will see Syed Masood, a Mlim property veloper wh a girliend who arrived Albert Square six weeks ago, fall for openly gay Christian Clarke. The pair will share an on-screen BBC has billed the storyle as a "tradnal love affair, albe wh a morn multicultural twist" BBC1 soap's productn team rearched the plot, which is bound to prove ntroversial wh some viewers, ntactg amics, gay Mlim support groups and members of the Mlim Council of Great the storyle, the 24-year-old Masood, played by Marc Elltt, fds his "relign and sexual feelgs nflict" character is currently datg Amira Shah as well as tryg to work his way back to his fay's good books followg his flight after losg money om the fay bs.
"Although the storyle will foc on Masood's stggle wh his sexualy, Santer said there would be a "balance of opns" cludg that of his more nservative mother Zaab as well as Clarke and his fay and BBC nsulted Dr Andrew Kam-Tuck Yip, associate profsor and rear the school of soclogy and social policy at the Universy of Nottgham, who has led rearch to the area, and Adnan Ali, head of Al-Fatiha, an ternatnal anisatn for gay Mlims.
"EASTENRS" URTS MORE GAY NTROVERSY BY OUTG A NEW MLIM {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRIAN JUERGENSMAY 29, 2009/11:19 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSMAY 29, 2009 / 11:19 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"\"EASTENRS\" URTS MORE GAY NTROVERSY BY OUTG A NEW MLIM CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-05-29T15:19:06.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-05-29T15:19:06.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRIAN JUERGENS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOHN PARTRIDGE AND CARL FERGON LAST YEAR'S NTROVERSIAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK RECENTLY ABOUT THE RELATIVE STUTNALIZED HOMOPHOBIA OF VAR RELIG GROUPS, WH A RECENT STUDY SHOWG THAT MLIMS THE UK ARE LS TOLERANT OF HOMOSEXUALY THAN MLIMS OTHER PARTS OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SURPRISG, THEN, THAT THE LONG-NNG BR SOAP EASTENRS HAS RECENTLY TRODUCED A MLIM CHARACTER THAT WILL TURN OUT TO BE GAY. LS SURPRISG? MLIM GROUPS A'T TOO CHUFFED ABOUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SPOILERY TAILS FOLLOW...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARC ELLT AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE SOAP IS SET TO OUT A CHARACTER NAMED SYED MASOOD, WHO ARRIVED WH A GIRLIEND BUT WILL SOON FALL FOR OPENLY GAY CHARACTER CHRISTIAN CLARKE (JOHN PARTRIDGE). MASOOD (WHO IS PLAYED BY MARC ELLT) WILL OF URSE BE NFLICTED ABOUT HIS FEELGS AND HIS RELIG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MLIM AFFAIRS COMMTEE IS UPSET ABOUT THE CHOICE, AND HAS MA A STATEMENT THAT THE SHOW SHOULD STEAD PRENT A "NORMAL, IENDLY" MLIM CHARACTER. I'M NOT GETTG WHERE MASOOD ISN'T GOG TO BE IENDLY, AND HE'S FELY GOG TO BE IENDLY TO CHRISTIAN, AS THE TWO ARE SLATED TO SHARE AN ON-AIR KISS. LET'S NOT FET THAT LAST YEAR THE SHOW ED A STIR WHEN HAD CHRISTIAN KISS ANOTHER MAN, LEE (CARL FERGON), ON A PARKBENCH BROAD DAYLIGHT, STEAD OF AN ALLEY BEHD A DUMPSTER AT 4AM, WHERE KISSG GAYS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAVE ANY OF OUR UK REARS BEEN FOLLOWG THE SHOW LATELY? WHAT DO YOU THK OF ELLT TH FAR, AND ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE STORYLE? A SHOT THE ARM FOR DIVERSY, OR A RIPPED-OM-THE-HEADL STUNT?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
EastEnrs is to screen a storyle volvg a Mlim character who has a gay affair. New character Syed Masood, a Mlim property veloper who has a girliend, is to fall for openly gay Christian Clarke. But the Mlim Public Affairs Commtee say that the BBC should have a "normal iendly Mlim character." * eastenders gay muslim *
A Gallup survey earlier this month found that Brish Mlims hold more nservative opns towards homosexualy than European unterparts, wh none of the 500 people qutned believg that homosexual acts were morally plot is the latt a number of ntroversial storyl, wh the soap last year tacklg paedophilia. By Shabnam Mahmood Entertament Reporter, BBC Asian NetworkEastEnrs is to tackle a storyle which will feature a Mlim man embarkg upon a gay affair.
Newer Syed Masood, played by Marc Elltt, will fall for openly gay man Christian Clarke (John Partridge) and the pair will share an on-screen kiss.
Last year, the BBC received more than 150 plats over a gay kiss between Christian and Lee Thompson which was shown before the 9pm watershed.
WILL EASTENRS FANS FALL FOR WALFORD'S GAY MLIM?
<p><strong>Gareth McLean:</strong> EastEnrs is to venture to new terrory wh an ter-fah gay love story. I hope 's not jt for publicy ...</p> * eastenders gay muslim *
Dierick Santer, the EastEnrs executive producer, said BBC1 soap’s productn team had rearched the plot while workg wh amics, gay Mlim support groups and the Mlim Council of Great Bra. A survey published last month showed that UK Mlims have signifintly ls tolerance for homosexualy than their French and German unterparts.
The poll, part of the the Gallup Coexist Inx 2009, found that not one of the 1, 001 Brish Mlims terviewed believed homosexual acts were morally acceptable. However, EastEnrs screened the first gay kiss, between actor-turned-MEP Michael Cashman, who played Col Rsell and Barry Clark, played by Gary Hail. John Partridge and Carl Fergon last year's ntroversial kissThere's been a lot of talk recently about the relative stutnalized homophobia of var relig groups, wh a recent study showg that Mlims the UK are ls tolerant of homosexualy than Mlims other parts of Europe.
Spoilery tails soap is set to out a character named Syed Masood, who arrived wh a girliend but will soon fall for openly gay character Christian Clarke (John Partridge). Let's not fet that last year the show ed a stir when had Christian kiss another man, Lee (Carl Fergon), on a parkbench broad daylight, stead of an alley behd a dumpster at 4AM, where kissg gays any of our UK rears been followg the show lately? EastEnrs is to feature not jt a gay kiss which, as we know, will furiate tolerant npoops everywhere – but is also to prent wh a love story between two blok.
WHAT'S LIKE BEG A GAY MLIM?
<p>EastEnrs' current romantic storyle featurg a gay Mlim character has ed a stir. But what is really like to be gay wh Bra's Mlim muni? Interviews by <strong>Homa Khaleeli</strong></p> * eastenders gay muslim *
After all, ever sce Gordon Colls me out, the early 1980s, Brooksi and EastEnrs' Col kissed first Barry (chastely, on the forehead 1987) and then Guido (aga chastely but this time on the lips, 1989), gay relatnships have been picted, wh varyg gre of accuracy and succs, om Ambridge to Weatherfield. While those of highly spic of anised relign might like a "gay good, Islam bad" story as much as we'd like a "gay good, Catholicism bad" story but life isn't que that simple. Unfortunately soap storyl ually are, means that EastEnrs is to be mend for venturg to terrory so replete wh shas of grey – though we should also acknowledge that s aim may be as rmed by a sire to garner headl as is by an altistic sire to raise awarens of the stggle of gay Mlims.
(It isn't jt Mlims who stggle wh homosexualy as a thg: Hollyoaks, tholic Myra McQueen was troubled and torn when her son John-Pl told her that he was gay. Akhtar, the chair of Imaan, an anisatn for lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr Mlims, advised the BBC on the storyle the hope that the character of Syed Masood would help tackle the double discrimatn of homophobia and Islamophobia that many gay Mlims Mlim theologian Amanullah De Sondy said recently that the vast majory of Mlims were "eply homophobic", and a survey rried out this summer among Brish Mlims reported that 0% of those qutned thought homosexualy was "morally acceptable".
GAY MLIM STORYLE FOR ‘EASTENRS’
'EastEnrs' is to feature a Mlim character embarkg on a gay love affair, �۪s been revealed. * eastenders gay muslim *
Yet, so far, the taboo-btg EastEnrs storyle has not sparked the expected luge of plats – fact, the soap's first gay Mlim kiss attracted a healthy 7. I'm out to all of my iends and most people who know me, but spe beg chair of an anisatn for lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr Mlims, I have never intified myself terviews before bee I have tried to be rpectful of my fay's relig and cultural sensibili.
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE GAY AND A MLIM
<strong>Khaled Diab:</strong> EastEnrs is breakg new ground on gay issu by explorg what happens when Mlim boy meets boy – but marri girl * eastenders gay muslim *
I was brought up wh a narrow terpretatn of Islam om a tradnal, workg-class Pakistani perspective and believed, like everyone else, that beg gay was wrong. After 9/11, we experienced Islamophobia cludg om wh the gay muny – at Gay Pri, some of the crowd heckled , and even a Pri steward referred to as terrorists. I've seen Mlim men sent to the US for electric shock treatment to "cure" them of their homosexualy; I know of gay men who have been murred "honour killgs" – fact, the police often ntact our sexual health anisatn if there is an unexplaed ath of a young Mlim man to check if he is on our database.
The imams I have said this to agree wh me, but say they n't say that fay know I'm gay; we don't talk about , but they have always known – probably before I did.
Then I spoke to scholars, imams and amics and I learned that there's no word for homosexualy the Qur'an, but do teach you to rpect the diversy the world and be hont – which is what I am dog. So now I'm lookg for a partner for life, who will accept me and my Akhtar, 30, Unn worker and lol uncillorI really wele the gay character EastEnrs bee I want people to engage the discsn.
EASTENRS ACTOR: ‘GAY STORYLE IS SENSIVE AND BETIFUL’
A Mlim ' EastEnrs ' character is to have a gay romance. Newer Syed Masood will fall for openly gay Walford rint Christian Clarke, a storyle which is set to shock Mlim viewers - as homosexualy is forbidn unr Islamic law. Executive producer of the BBC soap Diedrick Santer… * eastenders gay muslim *
The Sun has reported that the character is about to send shockwav through her Mlim fay by g out as gay on the BBC One has recently been seen hidg a strg of myster texts, and next month uld be revealed that she is gay and msagg other women.
IS IQRA AHMED GAY EASTENRS AND WHO IS HER GIRLIEND?
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However, she wouldn't be the first gay Mlim on the soap, as 2009 a storyle ran which saw Syed Masood (Marc Ellt) fall love wh Christian Clarke (John Partridge).
News of Irqa’s g out as EastEnrs ntu to raise the bar for LGBTQ visibily Brish soaps, wh recent storyl cludg a Pri para the fictnal east London borough of Walford and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) openg a gay bar, the approprately-named The Prce Albert, last month. I scratched my head, and Syed swiped away the rovg hand televisn's first gay Mlim, pecially his first kiss, has been g que a stir.
EastEnrs actor John Partridge has said that his character's Christian's relatnship wh Syed is more than jt a "gay Mlim" storyle. * eastenders gay muslim *
As for "normal", well, Syed's story is hardly unmon among Mlim homosexuals torn between the accepted norms of their fah and their Cairo, a gay acquatance of me me very close to succumbg to prsure om his fay to enter to a siar sham weddg while another publicly leads the life of an ambiguo "bachelor". In fact, beg both Mlim and gay turns you to jt about the ultimate discrimatn mag – drawg flak om mastream society, fellow Mlims and even the gay muny. "A gay Arab livg Germany once told me his hue didn't really f the rabow: "We n, sometim sprt, towards a more liberal wt only to fd that the lour of our ey, the sha of our sk and the tone of our nam are the obv hurdl we mt overe to survive.
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Although the tragic executns plac like Iran pture the headl, many Mlim untri, like Pakistan, have a vibrant unrground gay culture, the age-old attu of "turn a bld eye to avoid change" change is g. For stance, spe and bee of crackdowns on gay men Egypt, more open bate on the subject and sympathetic treatment of homosexualy have found their way to mastream culture and unapologetic gayns has reached the radil g, such as Maher Sabry's Toul Omry (All My Life), produced by the enigmatilly named Egyptian Unrground Film Society.
Newer Syed Masood will fall for openly gay Walford rint Christian Clarke, a storyle which is set to shock Mlim viewers - as homosexualy is forbidn unr Islamic law. The Orlando shootg was a hate crime agast gay people — even if, once emerged that the attacker had been a Mlim, many people claimed this as a terrorist attack rather than a hate crime. Sce the massacre, there has been a lot of speculatn about Islam and homosexualy, and there are fears that one man’s spible act of terrorism uld fan the flam of Islamophobia and other forms of social excln, leadg to disrd and unrt an era of elevated Islamophobia.