Muslim MP says she’s “proud” to support SSM in Australia

Muslim MP says she’s “proud” to support SSM in Australia
Image: Photo: Facebook / Mehreen Faruqi.

Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi has written that she is proud as a Muslim to support marriage equality.

In her article in The Guardian, Faruqi wrote that she has been asked how she reconciles her religion with her party’s support for LGBTI rights.

“As a Muslim, I grew up with values of compassion, justice and dignity,” she wrote.

“For me it’s a question of removing discrimination and providing hope and happiness to all loving couples regardless of their race, religion, sex, sexuality or gender identity.

“It matters to me that everyone has the same right to enjoy love, partnership and commitment that my husband and I do.”

Faruqi said that a Christian or Jewish MP would rarely be asked about marriage equality in relation to their faith, but that Muslims are often negatively stereotyped in Australia.

“Who can better understand the trials and tribulations of being a minority community than a brown, migrant, Muslim woman?” she wrote.

“We know what it feels like to face prejudice.”

Faruqi pointed out that there are, of course, LGBTI Muslims.

“Some of us will be vocal about our support for marriage equality, others will vote quietly,” she wrote.

“For those still on the fence, please consider this: marriage equality doesn’t mean anyone will be forced to do anything they don’t want to.

“It just means that other people will have the same rights as heterosexual people who are free to marry the person they love. Why would we deny this basic right to any other couple?”

The MP argued that minorities including Muslims should understand the drive for equality more than anyone.

“We want our [LGBTI] friends and loved ones to have the same rights we have,” she wrote.

“It’s that simple.”

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2 responses to “Muslim MP says she’s “proud” to support SSM in Australia”

  1. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but I’ve encountered many Muslims who have been Ok with my sexuality.

  2. “Faruqi said that a Christian or Jewish MP would rarely be asked about marriage equality in relation to their faith, but that Muslims are often negatively stereotyped in Australia.”

    Sorry, that is absolute tosh. On the one hand lots of MPs are being asked about SSM in relation to their faith, a quick google search confirms that (including marriage equality supporters like catholics Chris Pyne and Malcolm Turnbull). Secondly, it’s not “negatively stereotyped” to note that a vast majority of Australian muslims oppose marriage equality and live in a quite homophobic culture. Ask a muslim gay person and they’ll confirm it.

    The Greens really are away with the pixies.