Homosexuality: Muslims weigh in on the gay marriage debate

And please come to our Iraq rally

On the surface, you might think that the American Muslim community would be a natural ally for those opposing the flood of gay marriages that have been occuring since the landmark Massachussetts court ruling on the issue. After all, most Muslim scholars are steadfast in their belief that homosexuality is not allowed in Islam.

Indeed, across the country, you’ll find some Muslims entering the debate, whether it is the 65 Muslims that protested outside San Francisco City Hall while gay/lesbian couples lined up outside for a marriage license, or Alabama State Rep. Yusuf Salaam’s introduction of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Alabama. “I believe this is good for Alabama and good for America,” said Salaam. “Where I come from, Pakistan,” said Akram Chowdry, 60, an Atherton venture capitalist and Muslim who opposes gay marriage, “they wouldn’t even allow this.” And two Muslim groups, ISNA (not to be confused with this ISNA) and AMC, even signed up for the coalition group Alliance for Marriage, although they both subsequently withdrew from the group after being accused of links to extremists.

These expressions of opinion over gay marriage, however, appear to be muted given the abilities Muslims have shown over the past few years to be visible on an issue. For example, Iraq or Palestine can bring out Muslims in the thousands to email or phone their representatives or march in protests – dwarfing the Muslim opposition seen (so far) to gay marriage. Notably, none of the major Muslim political advocacy groups have weighed in on the debate, most likely because shared views with gay and lesbian groups over foreign policy and civil rights has created a fragile alliance that some Muslim leaders, regardless of their personal views, are loathe to break.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.