LGBTQ and MENA organizations build new communities

In Islam, Ramadan is an important month-long event that 1.8 billion Muslims respect and share with their families and friends. In 2021, the event is scheduled from April 12 to May 12, with important religious activities and events like the festival Eid al-Fitr on May 12–13.

With many international LGBTQ organizations and events worldwide, Utah LGBTQ-autism activist David Nelson remembers student friends in high school and college from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions.

Nelson was recently asked by a MENA college-student why he didn’t share the title of “Sayyid” publicly that Muhammad PBUH’s descendants usually do.

“Well, I taught myself to learn genealogy at age 13 years, and since college, I knew that I am a Sayyid. But, I made a mistake early on in sharing the title with others.” Nelson said. “A friend convinced me to use my title publicly when appropriate. I am just one of 45 million Sayyids/Syeds worldwide.”

“Now that I see that international Pride communities are bringing LGBTQ/MENA people together in many other nations from Saudi Arabia to the United States, I enjoy their involvement and hope to advise Utah’s LGBTQ organizations who would benefit from involving MENA immigrants in its events and groups,” he said.

Worldwide LGBTQ organizations are treating the international regions as a panoply of shared groups. From international to local Pride events, our groups can build communities together.

David Nelson is not a Muslim but enjoys working with all Islamic matters as a Sayyid. Utah has 14 mosques, a school, 12 restaurants, and five organizations including the self-described “diverse” Utah Muslim Civic League from Logan to Orem.