Friday, May 28th, 1999

1:00 p.m. Jumah Salaat (Friday Prayer) on your own

6:00 9:00 p.m. Registration The Gardens
7:00 10:00 p.m. Welcome Reception The Gardens
8:30 p.m. Maghrib Salaat (Evening Prayers)
9:00 p.m. Welcome Address Faisal Alam, Al-Fatiha Foundation
Sheikha
Prof. Ghazala Anwar

Saturday, May 29th, 1999

9:00 12:00 p.m. Registration

9:30 10:30 a.m. Caucuses Meet: Transgender Forum
Youth Forum
Bisexual Forum
Partners & Allies Forum
Womens Forum
Mens Forum

These caucuses are designed to facilitate an on-going discussion within our

communities about specific and relevant issues and problems facing transgender
Muslims, LGBT youth, Muslim bisexuals, partners & allies of LGBT Muslims,
LBT Muslim women, and GBT Muslim Men. Issues of coming out,
relationships, family, society, cultural & societal pressures of marriage, ageism,
sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia will be discussed. These forums will be
facilitated and led by members of Al-Fatiha, but are open to anyone who wishes
to attend.

10:30 12:00 p.m. Session #1: Immigration & Asylum Issues Faced by LGBT Muslims

Representatives of the Lesbian & Gay Immigration Rights Task Force

(LGIRTF) and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
(IGLRHC) will present about the work that their respected organizations are
doing in regards to promoting immigration rights and facilitating asylum case
for the LGBT community.

Session #2: Gender Identity & Gender Socialization in Muslim Societies

Members of Al-Fatiha will facilitate a discussion that will analyze the imbedded
notions of female and male gender roles and gender identities. From blue
diapers, to females veiling, to men standing in front of women during prayer,
Muslims are taught the roles that males and females are supposed to play in
society. How has this gender socialization affected our notions of sexuality and
gender identity? How can we overcome this process of indoctrination and gain
freedom from these oppressed notions of male and female? Can we? Do we
want to? These questions amongst others will be explored during this session.

12:00 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break

1:00 1:30 p.m. Zuhr Salaat (Mid-Day Prayers)

1:30 3:30 p.m. Plenary #1: A Cross-cultural Comparison of Gender & Sexuality in
Muslim Societies
 A cross-cultural comparison of various Muslim societies and their views
towards gender and sexuality, both present & future. Presenters will show a
video as well as lead a discussion about historical and present-day perceptions of
sexual identity & gender identity in Muslim societies and Islamic countries.

3:30 3:40 p.m. Break

3:40 5:10 p.m. Session #2: Human Rights: The Persecution of Gay Muslims

Members of Amnesty Internationals Committee on Gay & Lesbian Concerns,

as well as a representative of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights
Commission (IGLHRC) will present on the work that their organizations are
doing to combat human rights abuses in Islamic countries today.
Participants will also discuss the perception of human rights in Islamic
countries. Is it considered to be a western concept? What of Islamic Human
Rights. How can LGBT Muslims & Friends work together with human rights
organizations to challenge Muslim countries to stop their human rights abuses?

Session #3: Islam & LBT Women

Members of Al-Fatiha will lead a discussion on issues relevant to the lesbian,

bisexual and transgender Muslim community. Specific challenges and problems
including gender roles, sexism, male dominance in gay organizations, and the
loss of womens voices, will be discussed in this forum. Participants will also
discuss strategies and ways to work together to create a safe space for LBT
Muslim women, including the beginning of an LBT Muslim Womens listserv
on the Internet, as well as social gatherings only open to LBT Muslim Women.

5:10 5:30 p.m. Asr Salaat (Mid-afternoon prayers)

5:30 6:30 p.m. Dinner

6:30 8:30 p.m. Plenary #2: The Theological Debate: Reconciling Homosexuality with the
Religion of Islam

Presenters will discuss the theological debate surrounding the Quran &
Homosexuality. What are the verses that supposedly condemn homosexuality?
Is there misinterpretation in the Quran in relation to these verses? Why was the
nation of Lut (peace be upon him) REALLY destroyed? What acts if any are
forbidden in the Quran in relation to same-gender sex? How can one reconcile
their sexuality with their religion? These and other questions will be discussed
in this panel discussion and interactive workshop.

8:30 8:45 p.m. Maghrib Salaat (Evening Prayers)

9:00 10:30 p.m. Memorial Service & Candle Light Vigil

10:30 10:45 p.m. Isha Salaat (Night Prayers)

Sunday, May 30th, 1999

9:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Registration

9:30 10:30 a.m. Caucuses Meet: Transgender Forum

 Youth Forum
Bisexual Forum
Partners & Allies Forum
Womens Forum
Mens Forum

Please see description on Saturday, May 29th (same time)

10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Session #5: Multiple Identities: Religion vs. Culture

Panelists will explore the issue of multiple identities in the lives of LGBTQ
Muslims. How do these identities overlap? How do they conflict? When
reconciling sexuality is culture more dominant than religion in helping oneself?
Why do we identify more with one aspect of our identity (culture) versus the
other (religion)? This diverse panel representing members of the South Asian
LGBT community (from SALGA), the Arab LGBT community (from GLAS),
and a queer Persian man, and Al-Fatiha members will explore these questions
with the session participants.

Session #6: Coming Out: Where No One Has Gone Before?

Members of Al-Fatiha will relate their own stories of coming out to their
family, friends, and relatives. The difficulties and obstacles of coming out to a
Muslim family and an Islamic community will be explored. The reactions and
consequences of coming out will also be discussed. There will also be a video
presentation about a Muslim man coming out to his mother.

12:30 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 2:00 p.m. Zuhr Salaat (Mid-Day Prayers)

2:00 3:30 p.m. Session #7: The Silent Epidemic: HIV/AIDS & Muslims

A representative of APICHA (Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS)

will discuss the barriers faced in doing HIV/AIDS prevention & education in the
Muslim community. The sub-continent of India as well as Africa are considered
to be the next hot beds of this devastating disease. With this reality, why is
the Muslim community in these lands so blind to the consequences facing them.
Issues of sexual identity versus sexual activity will also be discussed. This
session will also incorporate a brief summary of an HIV/AIDS 101 workshop.

3:30 5:30 p.m. Plenary #3: Reconciling Religion: An Interfaith Perspective on

Homosexuality

Members of various religious communities and faith-based LGBT organizations

will discuss their respective religions and their perspectives on the issue of
same-sex acts and homosexuality. Panelists will include an Orthodox Jewish
Rabbi, a Presbyterian minister, a Baptist minister and members of Integrity
(LGBT Episcopalians) & Dignity (LGBT Catholics).

5:30 5:40 p.m. Break

5:40 6:00 p.m. Asr Salaat (Mid-Afternoon Prayers)

6:00 7:00 p.m. Dinner

7:00 8:30 p.m. Plenary #4: Progressive Interfaith Movements: The US & Abroad

Panelists will include a representative from the National Gay & Lesbian Task
Forces Policy Institute, the Religious Leadership Roundtable, Equal Partners in
Faith, The Jerusalem Open House, and Political Research Associates.
Presenters will discuss the work that their respective organizations are doing in
the progressive interfaith movement. Issues of LGBT rights, combating the
Religious Right in the US, and bridging cultural and religious divides will be
discussed during this session.

8:30 p.m. Maghrib Salaat (Evening Prayers)

Monday, May 31st, 1999

9:30 11:00 a.m. Session #8: Dating 101: A Queer Muslim Perspective

Al-Fatiha members will lead a discussion in which the issues surrounding

dating in the West will be discussed. Problems of finding a partner, dealing
with family and relatives, enigmas of marriage and marriages of convenience
will also be discussed. Participants will also explore the options to create an
ethical and moral Muslim dating system. Issues of commitment, love,
and monogamy will be discussed. How can we as LGBT Muslims create and
maintain relationships using Islam as a guide and model for our behavior?

11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Plenary #5: Al-Fatiha Presentation The Future of the LGBT Muslim
Movement

12:30 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 1:45 p.m. Zuhr Salaat (Mid-Day Prayers)

1:45 3:30 p.m. Session #9: US & Canada Regional Meetings: Strategies for the Future

3:30 4:00 p.m. Closing Session: Celebrating Our Lives as LGBTQ Muslims & Friends