In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful
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The Al-Fatiha Foundation* proudly presents
The 3rd International Retreat for Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning (LGBTQ), their friends and allies.
Friday, May 24 - Monday, May 27, 2002
(US Memorial Day Weekend / UK Spring Bank Holiday) (DC Black Pride Weekend - www.dcblackpride.org)
Washington, DC - USA
Registration, travel and housing details to be announced soon!
Advertising and sponsorship information will be forthcoming.
Retreat Listserv: Join now for up-to-date information!
Send a blank email to: Al-Fatiha-ThirdInternationalRetreat-Subscribe at yahoogroups.com
Questions? - Email Al-Fatiha at gaymuslims at yahoo.com
*This event will be co-sponsored with Al-Fatiha, Washington DC
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Invited speakers include:
Sulayman X (founder of Queer Jihad - first website dedicated to LGBT Muslims) - from Asia
Joo-Hyun Kang (Executive Director of the Audre Lorde Project) - New York City, USA
Surina Khan (Executive Director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) - San Francisco, USA
Badruddin Khan (author of Sex, Longing & Not Belonging: A Gay Muslim's Quest for Love & Meaning) - from Canada
Muhsin Hendricks (founder of first gay and lesbian Muslim group in South Africa) - from Capetown, South Africa
Respected Imams from New York City, Washington DC, and London (UK)
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Program of Events (tentative and subject to change):
Friday, May 24 (Evening) - Welcome Dinner
Saturday, May 25 (Morning & Afternoon) - Retreat for Men, Women, and Allies (separate)
Saturday, May 25 - (Evening) - Welcome Back - Joint retreat begins
Saturday, May 25 - (Evening) - Community reception & fundraiser
Sunday, May 26 - (All Day) - Joint retreat & sessions for all retreat participants
Sunday, May 26 - (Evening) - Plenary #1: Challenges That Face LGBTQ Muslims Around the World
Monday, May 27 - (Morning) - Plenary #2: Vision For the Future of the LGBTQ Muslim Community
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Al-Fatiha is an international organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their friends.
Brief History of Al-Fatiha:
November 1997 - Gay-Muslims Listserv begins October 1998 - First International Retreat for GLBT Muslims - Boston, MA - USA May 1999 - First North American Conference for LGBT Muslims - New York City, NY - USA May 2000 - Second International Retreat for LGBTQ Muslims - London, England June 2001 - Second North American Conference for LGBTQ Muslims - San Francisco, CA, USA
Future Major Events (subject to change):
May 24-27, 2002 - Third International Retreat for LGBTQ Muslims - Washington, DC - USA 2003: Third North American Conference for LGBT Muslims - Toronto, Canada 2004: Fourth International Retreat for LGBTQ Muslims - Europe
Mission: Al-Fatiha's goal is to provide a safe space and a forum for LGBTQ Muslims to address issues of common concern, share individual experiences, and institutional resources. Al-Fatiha aims to support LGBTQ Muslims in reconciling their sexual orientation or gender identity with Islam. Al-Fatiha promotes the Islamic notions of social justice, peace, and tolerance through its work, to bring all closer to a world that is free from injustice, prejudice, and discrimination.
To become a member of Al-Fatiha download our membership form at <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-fatiha-news/files>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-fatiha-news/files under "Membership Form"
Al-Fatiha Foundation * PO Box 33532* Washington, DC 20033
Email: gaymuslims at yahoo.com Web: http://www.al-fatiha.net and <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-fatiha-news>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/al-fatiha-news
For information on Al-Fatiha and to receive our email newsletter send a blank email to <mailto:al-fatiha-news-subscribe at yahoogroups.com>al-fatiha-news-subscribe at yahoogroups.com
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M. Faisal Alam --- E-mail: mfaisalalam at yahoo.com
"We are all tied together in a single garment of destiny...An inescapable network of mutuality...I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.