“Sometimes it’s not direct, but you can feel it:” Will prejudice ever stop against the LGBT communit
- Kellie Sadler
- Nov 21, 2017
- 2 min read
The founder of an LGBT support group for South Asians in Birmingham, claims racial prejudice remains in the community and is an issue that needs to be dealt with.
The Gay British Crime Survey (2013) revealed that one in six individuals experience homophobic or biphobia hate crime within three years of identifying as LGBT, yet two-thirds of those who experience hate crime’s do not report it.
Khakan Queresh, founder of Finding a Voice said: “There is still prejudice within the LGBT community. Sometimes it is not direct, but you can feel it with the looks you receive and the way people interact with you”
As a gay Indian male from a Muslim family, Quershi spoke about the difficulties that come with this.
“Gay Asians do exist. However, we are a minority within a minority. We’re too gay for the South Asian community but too brown for the LGBT community, resulting in dual discrimination.
“The community is slowly progressing, we are grateful for the UK legislation for marriage, adoption and equal rights.
“But now, the challenge is for this to transfer to black minority ethnic communities, as people in my group still feel isolated and have their barrier up due to the cultural challenges we face.”
Birmingham LGBT is the leading charity supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in Birmingham.
The LGBT organisation aim to allow these communities to be proud and to carry a normal life by being able to work, socialise and thrive within the city.
Behind Birmingham LGBT foundation, there are many support groups which are founded by people within the LGBT community themselves.
Khakan Quershi created the ‘Finding A Voice’ independent support group 3 years ago.
Quershi believes that these communal groups are more beneficial than the LBGT centre themselves, as they are more community based in terms of gender, ethnicity and culture.
“The LGBT centre is predominantly focused to the white community, and only in this last year it has started to become more diverse – even with staff. We need this to progress as it is supposed to represent a community and have balance.
“We want to relate to someone and feel as if there is someone part of the team that will understand where we are coming from, and have this cultural knowledge.”
Even though Khakan Quershi believes there has been slight progress within the LGBT community in terms of awareness, acceptance, and governmental laws, there is still a lot to be done for people to become more open and less prejudice against the community.
“LGBT needs to do a lot more in terms of reaching out to people, they need to go to the community to make these connections; yet they said this is not part of their ethos. We need to reach out, get resources, use people who are available and share information.”
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