2009 Forum
On Sunday November 29th, the AGMC hosted a Forum at VAC to discuss the question, “Is My Sexuality More Important than my Culture or Religion?” Over 50 people and 5 invited speakers presented personal experiences and perspectives which were sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always inspiring and challenging.
Alyena Mohummadally, Chairperson of the AGMC and co-convenor of the Queer Muslim network, spoke about her personal journey to embrace all facets of herself as a queer Muslim from Pakistan, and how this will become part of the life of the child she and her non-Muslim partner, Catherine, are having.
Madelaine Imber presented her perspectives as a lesbian feminist from a progressive Jewish background, and told of her experiences of marginalisation in an affluent Australian secondary college: “there were so many blondes”, and in Israel at the Wailing Wall. She called for the need to uncover and reclaim more lesbian feminist biographies and perspectives that have been silenced and denied in all patriarchal religions.
Maurice Wilson introduced the audience to the term “Takataapui” which means “Maori and Gay”. He gave the audience important insights into pre-colonial Maori spirituality and culture which was far more embracing of sexual diversity, as well as how this intertwined with his Mormon upbringing.
Joseph Chetcuti, who has recently published “Queer Mediterranean Memories” about the hidden gay and lesbian history of Malta and was part of the first Mardi Gras protest, spoke about Catholicism in his life, and strongly stated that cultures and religions needed to accommodate people’s sexualities as one’s sexuality was central.
Finally, Shanton Chang who began the Joy FM “Orange Ribbon” program spoke about his life as a gay Christian Malaysian Singaporean Australian, and how this often puts him on the margins of ethnic, Catholic and gay communities as he is always not quite what is expected or wanted. He called for the gay community not to offend its members who have strong spiritual faith as many have worked out their own personal relationship with God despite the dogma of their church hierarchies.
After some more delicious food, the audience engaged in a lively, inspirational and empowering discussion where many shared their own experiences and concluded that the GLBTIQ communities need to respect and affirm each other’s cultures and religions while working with Australia’s multicultural and multifaith communities to respect and affirm our sexualities.
The AGMC Forum was a huge success with approximately 50 participants involved in a lively discussion.
