SAME-SEX INTIMACY, INTIMATE CITIZENSHIP AND EXPERIENCES OF LIVED RELIGION OF NON-HETEROSEXUAL MUSLIMS: A CRITICAL REVIEW OF EXISTING STUDIES

Abstract

Recent decades have witnessed significant progress in the literature on religion, faith/sanctity and nonheterosexual intimacy/desire. Arising from the discussion of homosexuality and religion, many liberal theological perspectives have encouraged discussion of homosexual-friendly religious thought. Gay/lesbian and queer theologies have produced new religious discourse, providing a critical discussion on religious sacred texts, particularly Christianity and Judaism Althaus-Reid, 2003; Ahmed, 2006 . In addition to the wealth of journal articles, several narrative studies about religious activists and self-identified LGBTQ believers in a particular faith have contributed to the discussion. But what the general public think about the relationship between Islam and non-heterosexuality is mostly confusing and contradictory. Recent debates about same-sex intimacy and spirituality have raised questions about this relationship. There is now a greater understanding that people self-identify as nonheterosexual Muslims and their position in Islamic societies. In this sense, a few scholars have made significant contributions to the literature regarding the discussion and recasting of the Islamic belief system through new liberal and queer theological perspectives. However, specifically regarding discussions on same-sex intimacy and intimate citizenship, the experiences of non-heterosexual Muslims are overlooked within Islamic sexuality studies. Several questions follow. What are the experiences of non-heterosexual Muslims’ intimate relationship and intimate citizenship? How do they negotiate their sexual identities and intimate citizenship with Islam? How can place and culture affect or reshape their perspectives on same-sex intimacy and intimate citizenship as nonheterosexual Muslims? I examine the current discussions of non-heterosexuality in Islam before proceeding to questions on the position of same-sex intimacy. I focus on the relationship of same-sex intimacy and intimate citizenship from the non-heterosexual Muslim lens. In particular, I explore what same-sex intimacy means to the Muslim community and discuss the position of non-heterosexual Muslims within the Western European Muslim communities in terms of intimate citizenship. Words account: 7328

Keywords

• Same-sex intimacy,lived religion,intimate citizenship,non-heterosexual Muslims

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