Gay Muslims Find Freedom, of a Sort, in the U.S.

November 7, 2007

Author: NEIL MACFARQUHAR

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/us/07gaymuslim.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

SAN FRANCISCO — About 15 people marched alongside the Muslim float in this city’s notoriously fleshy Gay Pride Parade earlier this year, with various men carrying the flags of Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Turkey and even Iran’s old imperial banner.

While other floats featured men dancing in leather Speedos or women with scant duct tape over their nipples, many Muslims were disguised behind big sunglasses, fezzes or kaffiyehs wrapped around their heads.

Even as they reveled in newfound freedom compared with the Muslim world, they remained closeted, worried about being ostracized at the mosque or at their local falafel stand.