Why queer people should stand against Islamaphobia
In 1848, the city of Columbus, Ohio passed the first anti-cross dressing law in the United States. Multiple scholars have argued that contemporary queer culture didn’t exist until post-industrialization and the creation of urban centers, so why were mid-19th century lawmakers writing laws against identities that didn’t exist yet? Like most discriminatory legislation from the period, anti-cross dressing laws were actually meant for Chinese immigrants.
One of the complaints levied against Chinese immigrants was that “their men wear skirts and their women wear trousers.” Chinese men with long braids who were forced into the service industry were mocked as effeminate, and Chinese women who wore pants were automatically deemed prostitutes. Their “gender confusion” was used to impose further restrictions on Chinese access to public spaces and benefits once they emigrated to the U.S.
Now you’re probably wondering what that little history lesson has to do with queer folks and Islamaphobia. Well, I’m getting there …
France has become a target for ISIS-based terrorism in the past two years. As a result, national and local governments have tried to stifle Islamic expression within the country. While France is a secular country that disapproves of public displays of religion, many of their laws have been condemned by international organizations as targeting Islam — like the burqa ban. Some of you may have seen the woman in Nice, France who was forced to remove her burkini while on the beach. It was reported that nearly 30 French towns had bans on burkinis, but the ban was suspended by French court last week.
Similar hostility towards Muslim women can be seen in the U.S., like when Trump attacked Ghazala Khan with the stereotype of the silent, victimized Muslim wife.
While queer Muslims have spoken out against the hatred targeted at their religion, there hasn’t been a lot of public support from their peers or mainstream queer organizations. The Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando further polarized the relationship between Islam and queer identities, with many blaming the shooter’s religion instead of his internalized homophobia. But it is vital that queer communities start caring about the rights of Muslims – especially Muslim women – to express their faith.
If history has taught us anything, it is that when one group is targeted, all marginalized groups are at risk. The same rhetoric being used to justify unveiling is being used to target genderqueer expression. The people who believe Muslim women need saving are the ones attacking transpeople in public bathrooms to “protect” American women and children.
Queer people know better than anyone what it’s like to be threatened because of what we look like and what we wear – so we must stand up and face of Islamaphobia.
