Muslims Should Reject Premier Danielle Smith’s Transphobic Policies

By Junaid Jahangir, New Age Islam and Dr. Kristopher Wells 11 March 2024 “It Is Important To Recognize That Homophobic And Transphobic Rhetoric Has Been A Mainstay Of White Supremacist Ideologies And Campaigns. It Is Worrisome That We See Folks From Various Backgrounds, Including Some Muslims, Following Their Lead. … We Call Upon Our Community Leaders To Speak Out Against … The Potential Harm It Will Bring To Children Both From The 2SLGBTQIA+ And Muslim Communities And The Children Who Identify As Being Part Of Both Communities.” ------ THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson ------- Recently, the Al Rashid Mosque in Edmonton issued a public statement endorsing Premier Danielle Smith’s transphobic policies, which most egregiously seek to limit access to gender-affirmative care for youth, restrict teaching about 2SLGBTQ+ issues in schools, and prevent female-identified transgender athletes of all ages from participating in women’s sports. These Muslim leaders endorsed Smith’s policies because, as they state, they support “nurturing their children in accordance with their values and beliefs.” We believe these comments to be disingenuous, harmful, and politically motivated. The “values and beliefs” expressed by these faith leaders are not universally shared by Muslims, whether in a traditional or contemporary context. For instance, hundreds of prominent Canadian Muslim academics and professionals signed an open letter last year stating: “It is important to recognize that homophobic and transphobic rhetoric has been a mainstay of White supremacist ideologies and campaigns. It is worrisome that we see folks from various backgrounds, including some Muslims, following their lead. … We call upon our community leaders to speak out against … the potential harm it will bring to children both from the 2SLGBTQIA+ and Muslim communities and the children who identify as being part of both communities.” We share these concerns and emphasize how Premier Danielle Smith’s transphobic and discriminatory policy announcements are disingenuous and dangerous to both 2SLGBTQ+ and Muslim communities. Dr. Kristopher Wells is an Associate Professor and the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University. Dr. Wells also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the international Journal of LGBT Youth. ----- Islamic Religious Scholarship From the earliest time of the Prophet, space was afforded to individuals that traversed cisnormative and heteronormative gender binaries to find places of acceptance. Islamic scholarship has traditionally recognized khuntha nafsiyya (psychological intersexuality), where the “body is not congruent” with the “body image.” In such cases, gender-affirmation surgeries are supported to uncover one’s “true gender.” Moreover, such scholarship recognizes that not every individual fits neatly into a binary gender model and can live full, healthy, and complete lives. These teachings contrast with contemporary Muslim groups, like the Al Rashid Mosque, that seek to politicize and reduce a rich history of gender diversity to a Western colonial binary framework rather than a more inclusive traditional Islamic understanding. Muslim and Arab Medical Professionals Within an Islamic framework, gender issues are relegated to qualified medical and psychological professionals. Attempts to restrict or ban access to gender-affirmative care are not only discriminatory; they go against the very teachings of the Islamic faith. In this insightful interview with Dr. Hussein Abdullatif, who is a paediatric endocrinologist in Alabama and the co-author of Islamic Law and Muslim Same-Sex Unions, he describes the fear and uncertainty that took place when Alabama passed similar laws banning “transgender medical treatment” for minors and the significant problems these laws caused for both medical professionals and vulnerable youth seeking access to care. Likewise, doctors and nurses in Alberta have already been sounding the alarm about the harm these discriminatory policies would have on vulnerable youth in Alberta if they are passed. Health care and faith can and should be mutually inclusive. Taking a more holistic and welcoming approach, the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health, which represents medical professionals from Lebanon, the United States, and the United Kingdom, has issued guidelines on transgender health for individuals whose sex assigned at birth differs from their gender identity. They have also produced an excellent educational educational video in Arabic explaining the differences between gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Mahdia Lynn, who is the founder of Masjid al-Rabia–a women-centred, LGBTQIA+ affirming pluralist mosque in Chicago, is also an excellent example of how community organizers are actively working to support trans and 2SLGBTQ+ youth within faith communities. Islamic Position on Children In contrast to conservative Muslim groups like the El Rashid Mosque, which claim “guardianship” and “authority”over children, Islamic principles are clear about the independence and autonomy of adolescent youth. As Dr. Shehzad Saleem,, who is a Qur’anic Studies scholar, states “The most fundamental question here is that when you have children who are now young adults, who have entered adolescence, and they are now people who think, who have their own worldview, who have their own views about various things in religion, that we must not impose our views on our children…. You can communicate your experiences, but we have to realize that the Qur’an has never, ever at any single place said that parents have to be obeyed, come what may.” Dr. Saleem is also clear that despite religious disagreement, we should support the political and human rights of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals against discrimination and hatred. In other words, children’s rights should be paramount and come before so-called “parental rights,” especially when prejudice and discrimination are involved. We must always protect the best interests of children no matter how they identify or which community they belong to. Thankfully, progressive Muslims have begun to speak out and develop more faith-inclusive resources and support groups for trans-Muslim youth and their families, which are not only faith-affirming but can be lifesaving. < Canadian Muslims Should Affirm Trans Youth Ultimately, what we worry about the most are the 2SLGBTQ+ children within Muslim communities who witness their leaders continually denounce their identities and right to exist. These kinds of discriminatory messages do great harm and increase the risk of isolation, alienation, mental health concerns, and suicide ideation. The policies introduced by Premier Danielle Smith are not only unethical; they are also immoral. It has become increasingly clear these policies are not supported by any legal justifications, scientific research or evidence-based practices, which is why they are being met with worldwide condemnation < If passed, these policies will inflict the greatest harm on the most vulnerable and least understood members of our society. We need all of our faith leaders to rise up and denounce these discriminatory policies and ensure their mosques, churches, synagogues, and places of worship are safe and welcoming spaces for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, especially for our youth who deserve to be accepted and celebrated in the fullness of their identities. < ------ Junaid Jahangir is an Associate Professor of Economics at MacEwan University. He is the co-author of Islamic Law and Muslim Same-Sex Unions. With Dr. Hussein Abdullatif, a paediatric endocrinologist in Alabama, he has co-authored several academic papers on the issue of same-sex unions in Islam. He contributed this article to NewAgeIslam.com. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-west/muslims-reject-danielle-smith-transphobic/d/131889 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism