“When I dare to be powerful - to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde

Montclair State University, where I'll be speaking in a couple of weeks received a threat; looks like its because of me coming... Yikes! http://ping.fm/WicWu

Awesome visit to James Madison Univ; dinner w/ queer and Muslim and queer Muslim students. Heading to Virginia Comm. Univ. (where Dr. Amina Wadud taught for many years). http://ping.fm/WdsWk

Muslims for Progressive Values Reception in DC with Rep. Keith Ellison

I'm always fascinated how universities in small & cons. areas of the country become the only places where prog. folks can come together. :)

Off to Harrisonburg, VA; James Madison Univ. tonight. This week I'm going back and forth in Southern VA. Beautiful area but v. conservative.

100+ students at my talk (College of William and Mary); I joked that I thought it was College of Jesus and Mary); v. intelligent students!

Hello Colonial Williamsburg! Speaking at College of William and Mary tonight; 2nd oldest college in the US. See you soon. :) http://ping.fm/Tlv8u

Powerful and inspirational article featuring Muslims for Progressive Values. "Battling for gay rights, in Allah's name." http://ping.fm/vhv39

Dear fellow travelers: Sorry TSA keeps pulling you aside & letting me go. I can't help being such a queen! "Baby, I was born this way." ;-)

Dear plane seat mates on my right and left: Hogging the armrest & crossing your legs into my space is not allowed. Read etiquette guide pls.

Muslims for Progressive Values reception with Rep. Keith Ellison. Tomorrow (Monday) 6 pm at HRC. I'll be in town for it. mpvusa.org. C u there!

Make that 9 states in 14 days: PA, OH, VA, WV, CO, WY, MA and ME. Um... Crazy much? Yup!!

Back home for a hot minute. 7 states in 14 days and I feel like a tourist in my own city. :-)

Speaking at Georgia Southern University LGBTQ & Allies Conference in Statesboro, GA today. Welcome to Southern Georgia Ya'll! :-) http://ping.fm/H0TV7

LGBT Student Conference Panel on Faith & Sexuality turned into conv. on "gay marriage." My turn: Um, Let's talk about "Beyond Marriage." :-) http://ping.fm/ztL20

Boulder, CO in the morning. Statesboro, GA in evening. Ah... life of a superstar activist & speaker. NOT!! :-)

Going to airport to get another car. I ran out of gas. Fuel gauge is not working

So apparently brown people don't belong in Wyoming (unless your Native Am ofcourse). Stranded in rental car on major highway nr Cheyenne. Ugh

Shameful that MPAC, ISNA and CAIR feel the need to "celebrate" Qadafi's death w news release but no outrage over killings of Christians on Egypt.

hristians in Egypt.

Sad and shameful that mainstream US Muslim organizations (CAIR, MPAC, ISNA) feel the need to "celebrate" Qadafi's death yet no outrage over killings of C

Holy Buffalo Herd in Wyoming!

Beautiful Colorado. CO State Univ tonight Leading workshop on "Building a Revolution: LGBT and Muslim Working Together"

Who are the Gideons and why do they have a bible in EVERY single hotel room I've been in the last week from WV, to OH, PA and CO?!

Yay to CNN for broadcasting full I have a Dream speech by MLK.

Driving to airport. Tuned into XM to hear King Memorial Dedication. Um.. Fox News was only station broadcasting. What's the world come to?!

Citizens of 82 countries are holding protests today calling for an end to economic inequality. No mainstream US news has reported this. BBC did.

"Become an organ donor. Give your heart to Jesus." - billboard in NE WV for Christian ministry. :-)

"I like sports, cars, sports cars, crafting... and men. Being gay is a small part of who I am." - gay Asian VT student

"The third time I came out to my parents, they threw holy water at me. I told them that's not what it's supposed to be used for."

5 Muslim students are watching LGBT student coming out songs & poems. Hearts being changed folks. Young people are leading the revolution!

"My big Italian father gave me the strongest bear hug I've ever had." - young gay man at VT about coming out to his "pop."

stories through humor, tears, anxiety, love...

LGBTA of Virginia Tech having student monologues of coming out stories. One of the most powerful events I've witnessed. Brave young people sharing their

Driving through West Virginia literally cutting through Appalachian Mountains. Beautiful and Autimnal colorful forests. VA Tech tonight. :-)

OMG I just met bell hooks! She's so fierce! Full story to come soon. :-)

Sad to learn of gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny's passing today. Amazing career. His life-long struggle for equality will not be forgotten. RIP

Now entering West Virginia. Give me a W! Give me a V! What do you get? Middle of nowhere! ;-)

API and Muslim communities describe families "facing out" to community and society when an individual chooses to disclose their sexual or.

Is "coming out" a Western construct? In communities with strong familial ties an individual's actions affect entire communities.

Driving this humongous Dodge Avenger. Feeling so butch! Rawr! :-)

125+ students at my talk tonight at IN Univ of PA. Began by honoring First Nations and Native American history. Full report coming soon.

Full schedule of my Fall 2011 speaking engagements. Hope to see many of you somewhere along the way. :-) lgbtmuslims http://ping.fm/0eaG2

On the road starting tomorrow. Indiana Univ. of PA 10/10; Ohio State Univ. 10/11; Virginia Tech 10/13. Twitter @faisalalam lgbtmuslims C u!

Happy Pride Atlanta! See ya'll out this weekend!

Powerful piece by Urvashi Vaid on Paula's passing and the need for a broader feminist critique of our social justice movements. http://ping.fm/IdMkF

Very sad loss... Paula Ettelbrick, a gentle spirit, ardent advocate for social justice, powerful voice for equality... you will be missed. http://ping.fm/UODJP

How many of us remember George W. Bush saying that we were "liberating" Afghanistan. Wonder how liberated Afghani people feel today.

1 out of 3 US veterans say military invasions and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not worth it. 4,500+ killed, $1.3 trillion wasted.

Says a lot about our country when no mainstream newspaper is covering the fact that today marks 10 years since beginning of war in Afghanistan.

Video and Article: Kabul Rocks... With Music; Afghan Rock Bands Come Together after More than 35 Years - http://ping.fm/2pssN

Rocking Kabul: Afghanistan Stages Secretive Rock Event - BBC Article http://ping.fm/97XRj

My upcoming speaking engagements. Texas, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, New Jersey. See you on the road! :) http://ping.fm/XPMgo

Upcoming Speaking Engagements - "Hidden Voices: The Lives of LGBT Muslims"

Dear friends,

I'll be on the road and speaking at a number of universities in the coming weeks.

If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello. :)

University of North Texas - October 4, 2011
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Oct. 10, 2011
Ohio State University - October 11, 2011
Virginia Tech - October 13, 2011
Bridgewater State University - October 17, 2011
Colorado State University - October 19, 2011

Georgia Southern University LGBT Conference - October 22, 2011

College of William and Mary - October 25, 2011
James Madison University - October 26, 2011
Virginia Commonwealth University - October 27, 2011

Miami University (Ohio) - November 2, 2011
Montclair State University - November 14, 2011

"Hidden Voices: The Lives of LGBT Muslims" aims to highlight the many struggles and challenges facing sexual and gender minorities within the Muslim world and to examine the complex intersection of Islam, sexuality and gender.

Faisal Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent and the founder and former director of Al-Fatiha, an organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex & questioning (LGBTIQ) Muslims, and their allies. Faisal has traveled across the country and around the world to meet with LGBTIQ Muslims to build a global queer Muslim movement.

Using his own life experience and by exploring the complex history of the Islamic world, Faisal strives to bring new light onto the lives of an often invisible and silent community: Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning.

More information on my presentation can be found at http://www.hiddenvoices.info.

You can also follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faisal-Alam/129264817125767
and Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/faisalalam

My blog is at http://faisal-alam.blogspot.com/.
If you'd like to meet up for coffee or tea, please contact me at alam.faisal@gmail.com.

Look forward to meeting many of you.

Best,

Faisal

President Obama Speaks at HRC National Dinner

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