https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/people-spew-hate-being-lgbt-26520179
"I find the hate quite funny to be honest," says Hafsa Qureshi. As a loud and proud queer person of faith, Hafsa has developed thick skin to the daily barrage of abuse she receives from fellow Muslims on social media, simply for being herself.
"I find it so bizarre that people get so wound up," she says laughing. "People tell me I’m going to hell or accuse me of trying to change Islam - but I'm literally just one person from Birmingham, I have no power!"
Over the years, Hafsa has learnt that the best way of dealing with the abuse is to just laugh it off - but she says she worries about what impact hate like this has on other LGBTQ+ Muslims who are too afraid to come out. "Thankfully the vast majority of people are fine and supportive of who I am - but that minority is so loud," she says.
READ MORE: What are your rights at work during Ramadan? - and how to ask your boss to reduce your hours
"It worries that LGBT Muslims are going to see the hate I get and think that they're not welcome in this world - many queer Muslims have told me they've thought about taking their own lives, it really scares me."
Hafsa first came out as bisexual to her sister at the age of 11 - and came out publicly to colleagues whilst working at the Ministry of Justice in Birmingham. She now works at Stonewall UK working to raise visibility and awareness for her community.
She spoke to BirminghamLive about her life as an LGBT Muslim - and why the vile hate she receives has never made her question her faith.
Hafsa was voted Bi Role Model of the year by Stonewall in 2019. (Image: Hafsa Qureshi)
"I consider myself a religious person, despite what a lot of people think," she says. "People on social media will often tell me that I'm a sinner and that I'm going to hell because of how I live my life - but I know that they do not represent my community.
"Most Muslims I know love and support me - they might not march with us at Pride but they accept who I am, which is so important. The way I look at religion, in Islam we say we are 'one' people - and it's not a true community without all it's members, including queer Muslims.
"I don't think someone is worth less than me because they do things differently. In my opinion, Islam is all about bringing people in - and so many people showed me love and care when I first came out, but I worry people see the hate and think all Muslims are like that."
Hafsa Qureshi came out as bisexual whilst working for the MOJ in Birmingham. (Image: Hafsa Qureshi)
Living at the intersection of two identities – bisexual and Muslim – Hafsa is always keen to help others who might be struggling to embrace their true identities. She also wants to educate those who tell her that she can't be both.
"I want more people to understand that there are a lot of people out there in the world," she says. "Some of us are queer, some of us aren't, some of us are Muslim, some of us aren't - but some of us are both.
"There are so many LGBTQ+ Muslims out there - there's a whole community of us. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but if you spew hate at me publicly that's just going to make all of us look bad.
“I'm a religious person and I'm also queer - that's just who I am."
"I find the hate quite funny to be honest," says Hafsa Qureshi. As a loud and proud queer person of faith, Hafsa has developed thick skin to the daily barrage of abuse she receives from fellow Muslims on social media, simply for being herself.
"I find it so bizarre that people get so wound up," she says laughing. "People tell me I’m going to hell or accuse me of trying to change Islam - but I'm literally just one person from Birmingham, I have no power!"
Over the years, Hafsa has learnt that the best way of dealing with the abuse is to just laugh it off - but she says she worries about what impact hate like this has on other LGBTQ+ Muslims who are too afraid to come out. "Thankfully the vast majority of people are fine and supportive of who I am - but that minority is so loud," she says.
READ MORE: What are your rights at work during Ramadan? - and how to ask your boss to reduce your hours
"It worries that LGBT Muslims are going to see the hate I get and think that they're not welcome in this world - many queer Muslims have told me they've thought about taking their own lives, it really scares me."
Hafsa first came out as bisexual to her sister at the age of 11 - and came out publicly to colleagues whilst working at the Ministry of Justice in Birmingham. She now works at Stonewall UK working to raise visibility and awareness for her community.
She spoke to BirminghamLive about her life as an LGBT Muslim - and why the vile hate she receives has never made her question her faith.
Hafsa was voted Bi Role Model of the year by Stonewall in 2019. (Image: Hafsa Qureshi)
"I consider myself a religious person, despite what a lot of people think," she says. "People on social media will often tell me that I'm a sinner and that I'm going to hell because of how I live my life - but I know that they do not represent my community.
"Most Muslims I know love and support me - they might not march with us at Pride but they accept who I am, which is so important. The way I look at religion, in Islam we say we are 'one' people - and it's not a true community without all it's members, including queer Muslims.
"I don't think someone is worth less than me because they do things differently. In my opinion, Islam is all about bringing people in - and so many people showed me love and care when I first came out, but I worry people see the hate and think all Muslims are like that."
Hafsa Qureshi came out as bisexual whilst working for the MOJ in Birmingham. (Image: Hafsa Qureshi)
Living at the intersection of two identities – bisexual and Muslim – Hafsa is always keen to help others who might be struggling to embrace their true identities. She also wants to educate those who tell her that she can't be both.
"I want more people to understand that there are a lot of people out there in the world," she says. "Some of us are queer, some of us aren't, some of us are Muslim, some of us aren't - but some of us are both.
"There are so many LGBTQ+ Muslims out there - there's a whole community of us. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but if you spew hate at me publicly that's just going to make all of us look bad.
“I'm a religious person and I'm also queer - that's just who I am."
