UK Gay News
Saturday, November 17, 2007
“Though we live in the West, we still fear of our families and what the Somali community in general could do to us.”
■ Two gay Somalis in London.
photo courtesy Somali Gay Community |
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LONDON A new website, Somali Gay Community, has been launched to serve the small gay Somali community in London – and beyond.
It is believed to be the first of its kind in Somali history and culture anywhere in the world.
“Somalia is an Islamic country and, as they think that homosexuality is a Western illness, we do not exist in their eyes,” said Muraad, one of the Somali gays in London behind the website.
Muraad is the name used within the London gay Somali community.
“Though we live in the West, we still fear of our families and what the Somali community in general could do to us.”
“What our people think about us is one thing, but the thing that matters us the most is finding a way of helping and supporting each other through the most difficult times of our lives,” he said.
When the website became a reality seven days ago, it was a dream come true. And the dream started eight years ago.
That was when Muraad first ‘came out’ to his best friend – also a Somali.
“After a long discussion I told him that I will do something about making information available to all other gay Somalis,” he recalled.
“His reaction was that ‘you will only bring shame to your family [Muraad] – and by the way, how can you help others if you are in trouble yourself for doing something that is against our religion and culture’.
“At the time, if I knew that I was not ill and that I was not the only Somali gay person in the world, I would not have had suffered so much,” he said.
“For us – and I mean Somali gays, there are no gay role models to look up to and to identify yourself as gay, or Khaniis, which in Somali is a very bad insult. It is very hard,” he admitted.
The website itself was two years in the making.
“Our aim is to reach out those who need us the most and help them,” Muraad continued.
“I am so proud to have found my mates. Their dedication and courageous efforts have made this project what it is now.
“Of course we fear the consequence, though in different degrees.
“But that will not stop us,” he insisted.
The Somali Gay Community website, which is still in its early development, is in English and Somali.
Already it contains helpful information for gay Somalis, ranging from health matters to support services.
There is an interesting page on “Homosexuality in Islam” and a message board where members can interact, supporting each other. Membership is free.
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Brief Somali language “welcome”
Ku soo dhawow bulshadayada
Hadaad tahay qof khaniis ah waxa daruuri ah in aad fahantid ka sokow halganka aynu la kulano markaynu is aqabalayno nafsi ahaanteena iyo ta bulshada dhexdeedaba, in ay ugu muhiimsan tahay inaynu garawsano in aynaan kelideen ahayn iyo in ay jirto bulsho weyn oo khaniisiin ah taas oo qof ka heli karo nidaamyo badan oo caawimo iyo aqbalaad leh.
Dad badan baa u arka galmada waxa ugu badan ee macna weyn leh aragtida khaniisnimada. Tani kaliya maaha ta keliya ee dhaqanka ku dhegan laakiin sidoo kale waa eray gaf ku ah dadka qaar. Iyada oon si khalada ahayn, bulshada khaniisiinta dhexdeeda, galmadu waa waxa ugu fudud ee sahalka lagu helo laakiin jacayl ka dhexeeya laba nin ama laba naagood waa mid sidoo kale si caadi ah looga helo. Tan oo ay ku jiraan isku xirnaansho jir iyo qiiro leh oo heersare ah.
Jacaylka iyo isjiidashada labo nin dhexmartaa waa wax caalami ah oo la cadeeyay bilaw ilaa dhamaad taariikhda dhaqamo badan oo kala duwan. Khaniisnimadu maaha caado xun oon la sheegi karin xumaan darteed ama hab nololeed uu qof soo qaadan karo markuu ku noolaado galbeedka sida aynu inagu badankeenu ka maqalay reerkeena, asxaabteen ama bulshadeena oo leh.
Saaxiibtinimada Khaniisiinta dhexdeeda waxa weeye mid sidoo kale muhiim ah maadama xaaladaha badankood ay inoo noqdaan qoyskeena labaad. Dadka qaarkood inba inka badan bay isku haleeyaan marka laga gooyo qoysaska dhaqameed.
Markaad tahay wiil khaniis dhalin yar ama gabadh khaniisad dhalin yar oo Soomaali ah, in aad banaanka u soo baxdid waa dhacdo laga cabsado in la sameeyo maadama ay ku lug leedahay in aad heshiisiisid diinteena iyo dhaqankeena kuwaas oo sida badan ka soo horjeeda khaniisnimada.
Hasa yeeshee waxaa jira laba nooc oo banaan usoo bixis ah: banaan usoo bixista uu qofku naftiisa isku soo banaan baxo iyo mid uu u soo banaan baxo dadweynaha. Ta aadka u mihiimka ah labada waa isku soo banaan bixista shaqsi ahaaneed, aqbashidna in aad adigu soo jiidatid kuwa aad isku jinsiga tihiin iyo inay yihiin dareemo dabiici ah ood ku dhalaty kuwaas oon la karin in la bedelo iyo iyada oo aan macnahu ahayn in aad adigu qof kale u sheegto wax galmadaada ku saabsan.
Intaa waxaa sii dheer, is aqablaadani daruuri ahaan macnaheedu maahan in aad adigu ka takto ama dayac tirto qaabyada kale ee shaqsi ahaantaada ka mid ah kuwaas oo ay ka mid yihiin dhaqanka, diinta ama ta badanaa ugu muhiimsan shaqsi ahaantaada intaad kadaba ordaysid waxaad adigu u malaynaysid waxa khaniis ama khaniisadi ahaan lahaayeen.
Ahaw qofkaad adigu tahay! Waa dareen xornimo leh in aad hab siisid qaab kasta oo shaqsiyadaada ah halkii aad ku nolaan lahayd inkiraad iyo murugaysnaan.
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