Atralia's only openly gay imam starts the untry's first LGBTQ mosque. - Upworthy

Contents:

• HOW ATRALIA'S FIRST GAY IMAM IS 'SAVG LIV'
• GAY IMAM HOP TO OPEN ATRALIA'S FIRST LGBTI-IENDLY MOSQUE
• ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM ON WHAT HE'S LEARNED ABOUT INTOLERANCE
• GAY MLIM IMAM TO OPEN FIRST LGTBI MOSQUE ATRALIA
• MEET ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAMHE'S THE ISLAMIC LEAR PUTTG HIS OWN LIFE AT RISK THE HOPE OF SAVG OTHERS AS HE OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. PATRICK ABBOUD GAS EXCLIVE ACCS.NUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY AND HOP THAT HE N HELP OTHER LBGTQI PEOPLE WH THE MUNY. SOURCE: THE FEEDNUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY. HE WAS MARRIED AND HAS A YOUNG DGHTER.FOR S HE HAS LIVED FOR HIS RELIGN, ALL THE WHILE HOLDG ON TO A ADLY SECRET, A SECRET HE REVEALS TIMATELY FOR THE FIRST TIME, A SECRET THAT ULD ST HIM HIS LIFE: NUR IS NOW ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM."RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY," HE SAYS. "THERE'S THE NAME OF THE FAY YOU HAVE TO PROTECT, THE NAME OF THE MUNY YOU E OM..."THE REASON 'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO E OUT THE MLIM WORLD OR ISLAMIC MUNI IS BEE THE LOSS ARE TOO HIGH, THE RISKS ARE TOO GREAT, I MEAN THERE IS EVEN A RISK TO YOUR LIFE BEE THE NSERVATIVE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ISLAM TO UNTER HOMOSEXUALY IS TO BE KILLED, THAT'S YOUR REPENTANCE… SOURCE: THE FEED"WHEN I CID TO DO THIS, I REALLY ANALYSED AND THOUGHT REFULLY OF THE NSEQUENC."THE IA IS TO MAKE AVENU AND PATHS FOR OTHER YOUNG QUEER MLIMS TO LIVE THEIR LIV TO THE FULLT AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR SPIRUALY. MY TENTNS ARE TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM."IN SOMALIA WHERE NUR OM AND MUCH OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD, BEG GAY IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AT THE VERY LEAST.IN AT LEAST SEVEN MLIM UNTRI HOMOSEXUALY STILL RRI THE ATH PENALTY. MANY ATRALIAN MLIMS ARE ALSO AGAST HOMOSEXUALY."I N’T SEE THE FUTURE OR WHAT’S GOG TO HAPPEN HOWEVER THERE IS THAT ELEMENT OF EXTREMISM OUR MUNY SO I AM VERY UT AND I’M NOT ONE WHO’S EASILY TIMIDATED," SAYS NUR."AND I HAVE ROURC PLACE FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTN SO I DON’T WALK TO A STORM UNLS I KNOW WHICH DIRECTN THE WD IS TRAVELLG.""RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY"LABOR NDIDATE FOR MELBOURNE, SOPHIE ISMAIL, ATTENDS THE REGULAR UNRGROUND MEET UPS THAT NUR HAS BEEN ANISG FOR YOUNG, CLOSETED LGBTQI MLIMS."I’VE GOT A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAY," SOPHIE SAYS OF HER OWN G OUT EXPERIENCE."I’M VERY LUCKY. MY DAD WAS A B OF A REBEL THAT HE REBELLED AGAST THE RTRICTNS OF CULTURE AND RELIGN."I’M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND OM A MLIM BACKGROUND AND BE OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ."I N’T IMPART ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS NUR, HIS VOICE IS SO THENTIC. HE KNOWS THE KORAN."THE REALY IS THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OPENLY GAY IMAMS THE WORLD AND THERE'S ONLY ONE OPENLY GAY IMAM ATRALIA NOW SO 'S AN CREDIBLE THG TO HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM THIS UNTRY. SOURCE: THE FEED"AND SO THAT'S WHY HIS VOICE IS SO POWERFUL AND SO UNIQUE GUIDG THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO A BETTER PLACE."FOR TWO REGULAR ATTEN AT THE GROUP - WHICH THE FEED WAS ALLOWED EXCLIVE ACCS TO - HAS BEEN SEMAL FOR THEM G TO TERMS WH BOTH THEIR SEXUALY AND SPIRUALY."BEG PART OF NUR’S GROUP HELPED ME TO GET, ME BEG, HOW N I SAY ? MORE ACCEPTG AND HAVG MON GROUND WH OTHER GAY MLIMS AND TALK ABOUT OUR RELIGN, OUR SEXUALY OPENLY AND NOT TO BE AAID TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE," SAYS ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP WHO WISHED TO STAY ANONYMO.FOR ANOTHER MEMBER HE TOO HE SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM "FEEL MORE FORTABLE" AND "BUILD BRIDG".TUNE TO #THEFEEDSBS AT 7.30PM MONDAY-THURSDAY ON SBS2, STREAM LIVE, OR FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK, TWTER, INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, OR VE.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 2 MAY 2016 7:43PMUPDATED 14 JULY 2016 2:16PMBY PATRICK ABBOUDSOURCE: THE FEEDSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• GAY IMAM PLANS TO OPEN LGBT-IENDLY MOSQUE ATRALIA
• MEET ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAMHE'S THE ISLAMIC LEAR PUTTG HIS OWN LIFE AT RISK THE HOPE OF SAVG OTHERS AS HE OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. PATRICK ABBOUD GAS EXCLIVE ACCS.NUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY AND HOP THAT HE N HELP OTHER LBGTQI PEOPLE WH THE MUNY. SOURCE: THE FEEDNUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY. HE WAS MARRIED AND HAS A YOUNG DGHTER.FOR S HE HAS LIVED FOR HIS RELIGN, ALL THE WHILE HOLDG ON TO A ADLY SECRET, A SECRET HE REVEALS TIMATELY FOR THE FIRST TIME, A SECRET THAT ULD ST HIM HIS LIFE: NUR IS NOW ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM."RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY," HE SAYS. "THERE'S THE NAME OF THE FAY YOU HAVE TO PROTECT, THE NAME OF THE MUNY YOU E OM..."THE REASON 'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO E OUT THE MLIM WORLD OR ISLAMIC MUNI IS BEE THE LOSS ARE TOO HIGH, THE RISKS ARE TOO GREAT, I MEAN THERE IS EVEN A RISK TO YOUR LIFE BEE THE NSERVATIVE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ISLAM TO UNTER HOMOSEXUALY IS TO BE KILLED, THAT'S YOUR REPENTANCE… SOURCE: THE FEED"WHEN I CID TO DO THIS, I REALLY ANALYSED AND THOUGHT REFULLY OF THE NSEQUENC."THE IA IS TO MAKE AVENU AND PATHS FOR OTHER YOUNG QUEER MLIMS TO LIVE THEIR LIV TO THE FULLT AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR SPIRUALY. MY TENTNS ARE TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM."IN SOMALIA WHERE NUR OM AND MUCH OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD, BEG GAY IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AT THE VERY LEAST.IN AT LEAST SEVEN MLIM UNTRI HOMOSEXUALY STILL RRI THE ATH PENALTY. MANY ATRALIAN MLIMS ARE ALSO AGAST HOMOSEXUALY."I N’T SEE THE FUTURE OR WHAT’S GOG TO HAPPEN HOWEVER THERE IS THAT ELEMENT OF EXTREMISM OUR MUNY SO I AM VERY UT AND I’M NOT ONE WHO’S EASILY TIMIDATED," SAYS NUR."AND I HAVE ROURC PLACE FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTN SO I DON’T WALK TO A STORM UNLS I KNOW WHICH DIRECTN THE WD IS TRAVELLG.""RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY"LABOR NDIDATE FOR MELBOURNE, SOPHIE ISMAIL, ATTENDS THE REGULAR UNRGROUND MEET UPS THAT NUR HAS BEEN ANISG FOR YOUNG, CLOSETED LGBTQI MLIMS."I’VE GOT A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAY," SOPHIE SAYS OF HER OWN G OUT EXPERIENCE."I’M VERY LUCKY. MY DAD WAS A B OF A REBEL THAT HE REBELLED AGAST THE RTRICTNS OF CULTURE AND RELIGN."I’M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND OM A MLIM BACKGROUND AND BE OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ."I N’T IMPART ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS NUR, HIS VOICE IS SO THENTIC. HE KNOWS THE KORAN."THE REALY IS THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OPENLY GAY IMAMS THE WORLD AND THERE'S ONLY ONE OPENLY GAY IMAM ATRALIA NOW SO 'S AN CREDIBLE THG TO HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM THIS UNTRY. SOURCE: THE FEED"AND SO THAT'S WHY HIS VOICE IS SO POWERFUL AND SO UNIQUE GUIDG THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO A BETTER PLACE."FOR TWO REGULAR ATTEN AT THE GROUP - WHICH THE FEED WAS ALLOWED EXCLIVE ACCS TO - HAS BEEN SEMAL FOR THEM G TO TERMS WH BOTH THEIR SEXUALY AND SPIRUALY."BEG PART OF NUR’S GROUP HELPED ME TO GET, ME BEG, HOW N I SAY ? MORE ACCEPTG AND HAVG MON GROUND WH OTHER GAY MLIMS AND TALK ABOUT OUR RELIGN, OUR SEXUALY OPENLY AND NOT TO BE AAID TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE," SAYS ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP WHO WISHED TO STAY ANONYMO.FOR ANOTHER MEMBER HE TOO HE SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM "FEEL MORE FORTABLE" AND "BUILD BRIDG".TUNE TO #THEFEEDSBS AT 7.30PM MONDAY-THURSDAY ON SBS2, STREAM LIVE, OR FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK, TWTER, INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, OR VE.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 2 MAY 2016 7:43PMUPDATED 14 JULY 2016 2:16PMBY PATRICK ABBOUDSOURCE: THE FEEDSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU
• MEET AMERI’S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM
• MEET NUR WARSAME, THE GAY IMAM WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM
• HOW HAVE MLIMS REACTED TO A LGBT-FRIENDLY MOSQUE IN ATRALIA RUN BY A GAY IMAM?
• JAGUARS NFL ACH OUT AS GAY US SPORTS FIRST

HOW ATRALIA'S FIRST GAY IMAM IS 'SAVG LIV'

Atralia's first openly gay imam, Nur Warsame, unsels Mlims around the world not to feel shame about to travel due to secury ncerns, he set up Marhaba - an onle prayer group - five years tells the BBC how his efforts have helped to "heal" by Rebec Henschke and Haryo Bangun Wirawan. Atralia's only openly gay Imam is phg for the untry's first LGBTI-iendly mosque that would also act as a safe hoe and unsellg Warsame said he is alg wh an "avalanche of misery" among LGBTI Mlims who have no support servic or safe Nur is a vout Mlim who once led one of Melbourne's largt mosqu. When he me out as gay 2010 the Mlim clergy severed ti wh him, spe his rare crentials as a hafiz — someone who has memorised the Koran.

Nur Warsame ont of the buildg he wants to turn to a gay-iendly mosque. "You are talkg about an iology that believ your repentance is to be killed as a gay person, " he said he gets daily lls for help om young Mlims stgglg wh fierce and, at tim, vlent ristance om their fay and muny.

"'They are tryg to beat the gay out of you'Sam Hawli, 27, me out to his father durg an anxiety attack. ' I put my tst his words and I said to him, 'I'm gay', " Mr Hawli said.

GAY IMAM HOP TO OPEN ATRALIA'S FIRST LGBTI-IENDLY MOSQUE

"That really was the most prsg time of life, when you are physilly hurt by your fay and when they are tryg to beat the gay out of you.

ATRALIA’S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM ON WHAT HE'S LEARNED ABOUT INTOLERANCE

As a Mlim, my relign teach me that homosexualy is not permissible and we stand by that, " he said. It's a difficult to be gay anywhere, even a untry where marriage equaly was jt legalized.

But for a lot of gay Mlims who already face xenophobia all over the world, gets a lot harr. The proposed mosque, announced this week, is the brachild of Nur Warsame, the only openly gay imam (worship lear) the untry. In more nservative schools of thought, homosexualy is nsired a s agast Islam.

GAY MLIM IMAM TO OPEN FIRST LGTBI MOSQUE ATRALIA

A lot of Islamic scholars also believe that homosexualy is patible wh Islam, often cg the story of Lot found both the Quran and the Old Ttament. The story claims that God stroyed Lot's tribe for allegedly engagg gay sex.

MEET ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAMHE'S THE ISLAMIC LEAR PUTTG HIS OWN LIFE AT RISK THE HOPE OF SAVG OTHERS AS HE OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. PATRICK ABBOUD GAS EXCLIVE ACCS.NUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY AND HOP THAT HE N HELP OTHER LBGTQI PEOPLE WH THE MUNY. SOURCE: THE FEEDNUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY. HE WAS MARRIED AND HAS A YOUNG DGHTER.FOR S HE HAS LIVED FOR HIS RELIGN, ALL THE WHILE HOLDG ON TO A ADLY SECRET, A SECRET HE REVEALS TIMATELY FOR THE FIRST TIME, A SECRET THAT ULD ST HIM HIS LIFE: NUR IS NOW ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM."RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY," HE SAYS. "THERE'S THE NAME OF THE FAY YOU HAVE TO PROTECT, THE NAME OF THE MUNY YOU E OM..."THE REASON 'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO E OUT THE MLIM WORLD OR ISLAMIC MUNI IS BEE THE LOSS ARE TOO HIGH, THE RISKS ARE TOO GREAT, I MEAN THERE IS EVEN A RISK TO YOUR LIFE BEE THE NSERVATIVE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ISLAM TO UNTER HOMOSEXUALY IS TO BE KILLED, THAT'S YOUR REPENTANCE… SOURCE: THE FEED"WHEN I CID TO DO THIS, I REALLY ANALYSED AND THOUGHT REFULLY OF THE NSEQUENC."THE IA IS TO MAKE AVENU AND PATHS FOR OTHER YOUNG QUEER MLIMS TO LIVE THEIR LIV TO THE FULLT AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR SPIRUALY. MY TENTNS ARE TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM."IN SOMALIA WHERE NUR OM AND MUCH OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD, BEG GAY IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AT THE VERY LEAST.IN AT LEAST SEVEN MLIM UNTRI HOMOSEXUALY STILL RRI THE ATH PENALTY. MANY ATRALIAN MLIMS ARE ALSO AGAST HOMOSEXUALY."I N’T SEE THE FUTURE OR WHAT’S GOG TO HAPPEN HOWEVER THERE IS THAT ELEMENT OF EXTREMISM OUR MUNY SO I AM VERY UT AND I’M NOT ONE WHO’S EASILY TIMIDATED," SAYS NUR."AND I HAVE ROURC PLACE FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTN SO I DON’T WALK TO A STORM UNLS I KNOW WHICH DIRECTN THE WD IS TRAVELLG.""RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY"LABOR NDIDATE FOR MELBOURNE, SOPHIE ISMAIL, ATTENDS THE REGULAR UNRGROUND MEET UPS THAT NUR HAS BEEN ANISG FOR YOUNG, CLOSETED LGBTQI MLIMS."I’VE GOT A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAY," SOPHIE SAYS OF HER OWN G OUT EXPERIENCE."I’M VERY LUCKY. MY DAD WAS A B OF A REBEL THAT HE REBELLED AGAST THE RTRICTNS OF CULTURE AND RELIGN."I’M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND OM A MLIM BACKGROUND AND BE OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ."I N’T IMPART ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS NUR, HIS VOICE IS SO THENTIC. HE KNOWS THE KORAN."THE REALY IS THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OPENLY GAY IMAMS THE WORLD AND THERE'S ONLY ONE OPENLY GAY IMAM ATRALIA NOW SO 'S AN CREDIBLE THG TO HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM THIS UNTRY. SOURCE: THE FEED"AND SO THAT'S WHY HIS VOICE IS SO POWERFUL AND SO UNIQUE GUIDG THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO A BETTER PLACE."FOR TWO REGULAR ATTEN AT THE GROUP - WHICH THE FEED WAS ALLOWED EXCLIVE ACCS TO - HAS BEEN SEMAL FOR THEM G TO TERMS WH BOTH THEIR SEXUALY AND SPIRUALY."BEG PART OF NUR’S GROUP HELPED ME TO GET, ME BEG, HOW N I SAY ? MORE ACCEPTG AND HAVG MON GROUND WH OTHER GAY MLIMS AND TALK ABOUT OUR RELIGN, OUR SEXUALY OPENLY AND NOT TO BE AAID TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE," SAYS ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP WHO WISHED TO STAY ANONYMO.FOR ANOTHER MEMBER HE TOO HE SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM "FEEL MORE FORTABLE" AND "BUILD BRIDG".TUNE TO #THEFEEDSBS AT 7.30PM MONDAY-THURSDAY ON SBS2, STREAM LIVE, OR FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK, TWTER, INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, OR VE.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 2 MAY 2016 7:43PMUPDATED 14 JULY 2016 2:16PMBY PATRICK ABBOUDSOURCE: THE FEEDSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

Another readg of Lot's story claims that God stroyed the tribe bee the people of Sodom and Gomorrah failed to help the poor and needy and refed to stop flictg sexual asslt (of all kds, not jt homosexual) upon each of the beliefs are rporated to certa Mlim-majory untri.

For example, Moroc and Egypt, homosexual acts are illegal. In some theocraci like Sdi Arabia, homosexual acts are even punishable by ath. It's important to note that not all untri that crimalize gay relatnships are Mlim-majory.

GAY IMAM PLANS TO OPEN LGBT-IENDLY MOSQUE ATRALIA

However, untri like Jordan, Turkey, and Indonia— which is the most Mlim untry the world — there is no (official) crime beg gay. Unfortunately, some of the hard-le views on homosexualy seep to the fay dynamic. )Thgs all changed 2010 when Warsame first publicly me out as gay.

MEET ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAMHE'S THE ISLAMIC LEAR PUTTG HIS OWN LIFE AT RISK THE HOPE OF SAVG OTHERS AS HE OUT PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. PATRICK ABBOUD GAS EXCLIVE ACCS.NUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY AND HOP THAT HE N HELP OTHER LBGTQI PEOPLE WH THE MUNY. SOURCE: THE FEEDNUR WARSAME IS A PROMENT AND WELL-RPECTED MAN ATRALIA'S ISLAMIC MUNY. HE WAS MARRIED AND HAS A YOUNG DGHTER.FOR S HE HAS LIVED FOR HIS RELIGN, ALL THE WHILE HOLDG ON TO A ADLY SECRET, A SECRET HE REVEALS TIMATELY FOR THE FIRST TIME, A SECRET THAT ULD ST HIM HIS LIFE: NUR IS NOW ATRALIA'S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM."RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY," HE SAYS. "THERE'S THE NAME OF THE FAY YOU HAVE TO PROTECT, THE NAME OF THE MUNY YOU E OM..."THE REASON 'S DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO E OUT THE MLIM WORLD OR ISLAMIC MUNI IS BEE THE LOSS ARE TOO HIGH, THE RISKS ARE TOO GREAT, I MEAN THERE IS EVEN A RISK TO YOUR LIFE BEE THE NSERVATIVE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT ISLAM TO UNTER HOMOSEXUALY IS TO BE KILLED, THAT'S YOUR REPENTANCE… SOURCE: THE FEED"WHEN I CID TO DO THIS, I REALLY ANALYSED AND THOUGHT REFULLY OF THE NSEQUENC."THE IA IS TO MAKE AVENU AND PATHS FOR OTHER YOUNG QUEER MLIMS TO LIVE THEIR LIV TO THE FULLT AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR SPIRUALY. MY TENTNS ARE TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM."IN SOMALIA WHERE NUR OM AND MUCH OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD, BEG GAY IS ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT AT THE VERY LEAST.IN AT LEAST SEVEN MLIM UNTRI HOMOSEXUALY STILL RRI THE ATH PENALTY. MANY ATRALIAN MLIMS ARE ALSO AGAST HOMOSEXUALY."I N’T SEE THE FUTURE OR WHAT’S GOG TO HAPPEN HOWEVER THERE IS THAT ELEMENT OF EXTREMISM OUR MUNY SO I AM VERY UT AND I’M NOT ONE WHO’S EASILY TIMIDATED," SAYS NUR."AND I HAVE ROURC PLACE FOR SAFETY AND PROTECTN SO I DON’T WALK TO A STORM UNLS I KNOW WHICH DIRECTN THE WD IS TRAVELLG.""RENCILG SPIRUALY WH SEXUALY IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOURNEY"LABOR NDIDATE FOR MELBOURNE, SOPHIE ISMAIL, ATTENDS THE REGULAR UNRGROUND MEET UPS THAT NUR HAS BEEN ANISG FOR YOUNG, CLOSETED LGBTQI MLIMS."I’VE GOT A VERY SUPPORTIVE FAY," SOPHIE SAYS OF HER OWN G OUT EXPERIENCE."I’M VERY LUCKY. MY DAD WAS A B OF A REBEL THAT HE REBELLED AGAST THE RTRICTNS OF CULTURE AND RELIGN."I’M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO BE BOTH GAY AND OM A MLIM BACKGROUND AND BE OUT AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ."I N’T IMPART ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS NUR, HIS VOICE IS SO THENTIC. HE KNOWS THE KORAN."THE REALY IS THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF OPENLY GAY IMAMS THE WORLD AND THERE'S ONLY ONE OPENLY GAY IMAM ATRALIA NOW SO 'S AN CREDIBLE THG TO HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM THIS UNTRY. SOURCE: THE FEED"AND SO THAT'S WHY HIS VOICE IS SO POWERFUL AND SO UNIQUE GUIDG THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO A BETTER PLACE."FOR TWO REGULAR ATTEN AT THE GROUP - WHICH THE FEED WAS ALLOWED EXCLIVE ACCS TO - HAS BEEN SEMAL FOR THEM G TO TERMS WH BOTH THEIR SEXUALY AND SPIRUALY."BEG PART OF NUR’S GROUP HELPED ME TO GET, ME BEG, HOW N I SAY ? MORE ACCEPTG AND HAVG MON GROUND WH OTHER GAY MLIMS AND TALK ABOUT OUR RELIGN, OUR SEXUALY OPENLY AND NOT TO BE AAID TO EMBRACE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE," SAYS ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP WHO WISHED TO STAY ANONYMO.FOR ANOTHER MEMBER HE TOO HE SAYS THE GROUP HAS HELPED HIM "FEEL MORE FORTABLE" AND "BUILD BRIDG".TUNE TO #THEFEEDSBS AT 7.30PM MONDAY-THURSDAY ON SBS2, STREAM LIVE, OR FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK, TWTER, INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, OR VE.SHAREFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBETHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR. READ MORE ABOUT THE FEEDWATCH NOWHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USTHROUGH AWARD WNG STORYTELLG, THE FEED BREAKS NEW GROUND WH S PELLG MIX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, EDY, PROFIL AND VTIGATNS. SEE DIFFERENT. KNOW BETTER. LGH HARR.WATCH NOWFOLLOW THE FEEDFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE4 M READPUBLISHED 2 MAY 2016 7:43PMUPDATED 14 JULY 2016 2:16PMBY PATRICK ABBOUDSOURCE: THE FEEDSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHAREREMEND FOR YOU

The imam also said that he receiv ath threats om people who believe homosexualy is agast or patible wh Islam.

“It's disgtg, bee you suffer om Islamophobia, om both the mastream non-Mlim muny and even some the LGBT muny, and homophobia om both, ” he told The Project. Warsame believ LGBTQ Mlims have hard nsirg that, addn to homophobia, they also have to endure Islamophobia as Mlims Atralia.

MEET AMERI’S FIRST OPENLY GAY IMAM

In November 2012, Europe’s first “gay-iendly” mosque opened Paris. ’s first openly gay imam — marri same-sex Mlim upl the Islamic tradn and also offers funeral servic for gay Mlims who died om AIDS. For example, Islamic scholars like Reza Aslan have wrten support of gay rights.

MEET NUR WARSAME, THE GAY IMAM WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE MLIM HOM

Has yet to while homophobia is certaly an issue wh some of the more nservative and fundamentalist muni, Mlims aren’t universally anti-gay, eher. For stance, acrdg to Imam Dayiee, the Islamic Ottoman Empire crimalized homosexualy 1858 — about 100 years before any Wtern untry did. If the world was ready then, we should fd wh ourselv to ph for progrs Nur Warsame talk about his experienc of beg an openly gay imam below:.

An imam Atralia is workg to open the untry's first mosque for LGTBI Mlims, claimg that gay Mlims the untry lack support and safe Warsame, Atralia's only openly gay imam, told Atralian media he als wh an "avalanche of misery" om LGTBI Mlims who need support and muny. Warsame has received ath threats over the years om people who believe homosexualy is patible wh relign. But that hasn't stopped him om speakg openly about what 's like to be both gay and Mlim, and about his experience wh homophobia and Islamophobia.

"It's disgtg, bee you suffer om Islamophobia, om both the mastream non-Mlim muny and even some the LGBT muny, and homophobia om both, " he said a 2016 vio terview wh Atralian media. He was married and has a young s he has lived for his relign, all the while holdg on to a adly secret, a secret he reveals timately for the first time, a secret that uld st him his life: Nur is now Atralia's first openly gay Imam.

HOW HAVE MLIMS REACTED TO A LGBT-FRIENDLY MOSQUE IN ATRALIA RUN BY A GAY IMAM?

"The reason 's difficult for people to e out the Mlim world or Islamic muni is bee the loss are too high, the risks are too great, I mean there is even a risk to your life bee the nservative school of thought Islam to unter homosexualy is to be killed, that's your repentance… Source: The Feed"When I cid to do this, I really analysed and thought refully of the nsequenc. "In Somalia where Nur om and much of the Islamic world, beg gay is illegal and punishable by imprisonment at the very at least seven Mlim untri homosexualy still rri the ath penalty. Many Atralian Mlims are also agast homosexualy.

"I’m proud to be able to be both gay and om a Mlim background and be out and talk to people about . "The realy is there are only a handful of openly gay imams the world and there's only one openly gay imam Atralia now so 's an credible thg to have his experience and his wisdom this untry.

More acceptg and havg mon ground wh other gay Mlims and talk about our relign, our sexualy openly and not to be aaid to embrace who we are and what we are, " says one member of the group who wished to stay another member he too he says the group has helped him "feel more fortable" and "build bridg" to #thefeedsbs at 7. The Somali-born Gay imam Nur Warsame. An openly “gay imam” is hopg to open Atralia’s first “LGBT-iendly mosque” wh the next year.

JAGUARS NFL ACH OUT AS GAY US SPORTS FIRST

Mr Warsame, who ed to lead a mosque Melbourne, me out as the untry’s first openly gay Mlim lear 2010.