Statement in support of CEMB sent to Pride Community Advisory Board.

I sent this in support of CEMB in light of the formal complaint made against them over their placards in this years Pride. 

Dear Community Advisory Board

I am an 2nd gen SE Asian immigrant, a cultural Muslim and LGBT ally. I marched with my company in Pride this year, are part of our Pride team and have been a long time proponent of LGBT rights for many decades. 

I am writing in support of the CEMB team who marched near us in this years Pride, as in an article in the Evening Standard of 14th July 2017, the clerics have stated they would be complaining about the CEMB presence and their placards and make accusations of Islamophobia.

LGBT are a persecuted minority within Islam and Ex-Muslims are a persecuted minority within Islam. Ex-Muslim LGBT are a subset who are persecuted in two ways, as apostates, and as LGBT. In the UK they are a persecuted minority within the Muslim community. In Muslim countries they fall within the classic defintion of an oppressed and persecuted minority. Muslims hold power, privilege and prejudice, they form the majority, in this context, they are the oppressors. Homophobia in Islamic society is systematic and institutionalised, LGBT are oppressed by the law, by the state, by the authorities, at community level and at a family level. Similar applies to apostates. Both face death, violence and punishment in Muslim countries under law or culture, in the West they face violence, shunning and exile from family and communities. 

I maintain an internet safety guide and advice for ex-Muslims and LGBT Muslims espousing levels of anonymity far beyond what anyone needs in the West because abroad we are being murdered for being who we are and the social media companies and ISPs work with the state and authorities to disclose our identities. Even in the UK we are not safe, and have to maintain anonymity and secrecy.

Ex-Muslim LGBT and Ex-Muslims cannot be Islamophobic. We hold no power, no privilege. The danger is real, not an "irrational phobia" implied by the Islamophobia label.  I fully agree that in any other context, one where the bearers held privilege over Muslims the signs would be offensive, but as the minority the CEMB LGBT have the right to shock, to cause outrage, to engage discussion and promote their experiences and oppression.

This is an attempt to erase our experiences and silence our voice. I strongly object to our oppressors claiming victimhood and continuing our oppression by attempting to exclude our voice from future Pride parades. 

Thank you for your time in listening.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/ExMuslimSafety/
http://socjusculture.blogspot.co.uk