Birmingham Pride this year is all about diversity – especially for representing people of colour and other ethnic minorities in Birmingham.
The event has made history with Muslim groups leading the Birmingham Pride parade for the first time in the event’s 23 years history. Alongside ‘No Outsiders’ founder and school teacher Andrew Moffat stood Khakan Qureshi – founder of Birmingham Asian LGBT; Saima Razzaq of SEEDS, activist Ferhan Khan, and Birmingham Pride director Lawrence Barton.
They were joined by various Muslim groups from across the country, including Imaan LGBTQI and the Matt and Naz Foundation, alongside organisations represrnitng LGBT+ South Asians and queer people of colour (QPOC).
The solidarity comes in the face of demonstrations that have been held across primary schools in Birmingham over Moffat’s ‘No Outsiders’ programme. The teaching materials came under fire this year by parents who felt teaching LGBT+ equality wasn’t age appropriate for primary school children.
Parkfield Community School’s assistant head Andrew Moffat maintains the aim of the initiative educating children to accept differences in society. Mr Moffat, and the school, have consistently defended the programme, which they said had been fully explained to parents.
Despite the controversy of these protests, LGBT+ groups and their allies were out in full force over Pride, celebrating inclusiveness and identity while challenging homophobia, Islamophobia, transphobia, racism and hate.
Here’s 15+ photos Muslims and their allies owning Pride…
#1 Ferhan Khan celebrating love and diversity in Hurst Street
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#2 A woman waving a Palestinian flag at Birmingham Pride
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#3 Andrew Moffat led the Pride parade alongside Saima Razzaq, Khakan Qureshi, Lawrence Barton, and Ferhan Khan
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#4 ‘Love is not Haram’
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#5 ‘Allah Loves Equality’
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#6 ‘Allah Loves Us All”
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#7 The Imaan crew in Birmingham for Pride
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#8 ‘Queer Muslim Babe’
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#9 ‘Protect Muslim QTIPOC’
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#10 Andrew Moffat, Saima Razzaq, Khakan Qureshi, Lawrence Barton
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#11 LGBT+ Against Islamophobia
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#12 Imaan
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#13 ‘Allah Loves Us All’
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#14 Naz & Matt Foundation
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#15 Imaan LGBTQI Muslims
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#16 Inter-faith solidarity
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#17 Andrew Moffat meets Muslim supporters
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#18 Muslim allies
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#19 Queer Muslim
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#20 Khakan meeting friends and allies
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#23 Salman Mirza shows solidarity
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#22 Ferhan Khan and Saima Razzaq
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WATCH: Andrew Moffat and Muslim groups leading Birmingham Pride make history…
Birmingham Pride takes place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26thMay over the Bank Holiday weekend. Tickets are still available here.