BAE SHARAM

ACTIVIST / PERFORMANCE ARTIST

I firmly believe that allowing any kind of debate on the “validity” of LGBTQ relationships is wholly wrong, damaging and even dangerous — regardless of whether it’s part of a faith school, a state school, or any school.

It continues to perpetuate [ the myth] that there are two sides to this conversation, which simply isn’t the case. I believe that there are core fundamental rights, values and attitudes that are ( and should always be) universal in our communities about how we treat other people — and that these values go beyond and override our individual faith system or values. Continuing to call it a debate, to call it a conversation, to call it an argument, only feeds into the narrative that we are one of two options. But that’s a false equivalency: there aren’t two options, there are no sides, there is only the universal truth that being LGBTQ is one of the multiple ways that people live their lives. I’m deeply disappointed in the government for making allowances for bigotry that hides homophobic and transmisogynistic extreme fundamentalism. But the main thing here is that it’s imperative for people of faith to continue to stand up visibly and vocally for LGBTQ people, and especiall y for other queer people of faith who will be most marginalised by this “debate.”

It’s important for allies of faith and queer people of faith to take control of this narrative and reaffirm that there is no place for a “debate” like this in our society any more.

“THERE IS NO PLACE FOR A ‘ DEBATE’ LIKE THIS ANY MORE”