Inshirah – An Expansion of the Heart: Building for Tomorrow
Salaam Canada Conference in co junction with Outgames Vancouver HR Conference: and the Queer Arts Festival
Inshirah – An Expansion of the Heart: Building for Tomorrow
Vancouver BC: July 28, 29 and 30 al-Inshirah is verse 94 of the Quran. In that context, the name may mean Consolation, Relief, The Expansion, The Expanding, The Opening-Up of the Heart. In Urdu, Inshirah is a gender neutral name for boys and girls and means Delight, happiness, cheerfulness, maybe even Gaiety. The Vision of our conference is to initiate dialogue and open hearts, to create community and belonging and to build groups, structures and activisims for a better tomorrow for LGBTIQ Muslims, their families, loved ones, friends and communities.
Community Partners include: Trikone Vancouver and Egale Canada
Visioning:
Day 1: Human Rights/Social Justice Praxis and Activism
Day 2: Wrestling the Divine – Dealing w Theology and Theology inspired Angst &/or Theological angst
Day 3: Building Tomorrows – Where & how we go from here
**** We are still looking for speakers, presenters, performers, facilitators, volunteers and sponsors! If you have a topic of interest that you want to present or have presented, let us know!
Agenda:
Wednesday: July 27 – 7 p.m. Meet & Greet @ the Roundhouse for Conference Participants
Thursday: July 28 - Outgames Human Rights Conference Sessions
Session 1 10:30 – 12:00
Knowledge building session/human-rights
Refugee & Immigration System: Challenges faced by LBTQI Muslim refugees: LGBT individuals are among the most vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees in Canada today. Having escaped persecution in their countries of origin, they arrive on Turtle Island to confront significant new challenges to their safety, security and protection.
The presenters shed light on gaps in the system in their protection, identity-based barriers to housing, employment, social services and education, invasive questioning during asylum procedures, as well as the stereotypes and generalizations underscored in the process of asking for international protection . They also set out specific and practical recommendations for community accountability.
Rainbow Refugee Network, Salaam: QMC: Facilitator: Imtiaz Popat. Chris Morrissey, Hano, Tayseem.
Session Two: 1:00 – 3:30
Panel on Human Rights, anti-Muslim hysteria post 9/11, homonationalism & xenophobia. Conversations on post 9/11 erosion of rights, attacks on civil liberties in North America & Europe, and the role of Pinkwashing and Homonationalism in perpetuating occupation and/or neo-con agendas.
Panel will explore how to approach and organize against homophobia and anti-queer violence in places like Uganda, Egypt, Iran, ‘The Muslim “East”, without being coopted into a Pinkwashing campaign.
Creating coalitions for justice and change – New Media and its Role. How to use new media to organize and create. Speakers including: Fatima Jaffer & others. Facilitator: El-Farouk Khaki
3:30 – 3:45 Zuhur & Asr prayers
Friday: July 29 - 9:00AM-6:00PM
9:00 – 10:00 Registration & Refreshments
10:00 – 10:40 Recital of Quran
1st Nations welcome
Choral Azan
Welcome – Why we are here – by El-Farouk Khaki & Imtiaz P
Political Welcome: Ellen Woodsworth, Maybe Elmer, Spencer Chandra-Herbert
History of Queer Muslim Movement – El-Farouk Khaki & Faisal Alam
10:40 – 10:50 Stretch Break
10:50 – 11:30 The good and bad of Progressive: Creating inclusive/LGBT friendly Muslim Discourse & fighting the ‘good Muslim/bad Muslim dichotomy” – Fatima Jaffer & Faisal Alam. Facilitator: EFK
11:30 – 12:45 Positive images /Homosexuality in Islam by Daayiee Abdullah & Faris Malik review the texts from the Qur’an and hadith identified as relevant to a discussion of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism. Moderator: Saleh
12:45 – 1:15 Lunch
1:15 – 2:15 Juma prayers: Khutab – El-Farouk
2:30 – 4:15 Struggling w Allah/Loosing my Religion Panel – Lali Mohammed, Farzana Doctor & Sam Kabbara . A discussion of the inner conflict and outer pressures facing LGBTI Muslims struggling with faith, community, racism and homophobia. Facilitator: Rahim Thawer
4:15 – 5:30 Health Break
Morning session Continues: 4:30 – 5:30 Genders, Homosexualities and Transexualities in Islam, Problems and otherwise – Engaging the Texts….
6: 00 – 7:00 Chai Khana Open Mic Tea Party: come share your music, writing or other performance with us. An open forum to explore how art is a vehicle for social change. Please contact farzanadoctor@rogers.com to sign up for an open mic spot. We’ll share the time so everyone has an opportunity at the mic. Azra K. Farzana Doctor, Troy Jackson….
7:00 – 7:20 Asr & Maghrib prayers Informal invitation night to gather at night in a restaurant
CAYA Telus Streeet Party
Saturday: July 30 – 10:00AM – 5:00PM
9:30 – 10:00 Registration & Refreshments
10:00 – 12:00 Family of Origin/Chosen Family: the special struggles of Queer / Muslim Youth. – Lali Mohammed , Shahraz Kassam, Burcu, Rahim & Shainul
11:00 – 12:00Concurrent Session on Polyamory & Legal/Social Issues : Imtiaz Popat & others
12:00 – 12:15 Coffee break
12:20 – 01:20 Visions: How to organize and establish inclusive Muslim groups and spaces ; how to use social media strategies to help us build our networks/analysis
1:20 – 1:40 Zikr & Zuhr Prayer
1:40 – 2:30 Lunch
2:30 – 3:30 Interfaith Roundtable w Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, Bahai & Hindu voices
3:45 – 6:00 Where do we go from here? Moderator:Farzana Doctor
6:00 – 6:20 Asr & Maghrib prayers
Salaam W2 Pride World Dance Party W2 Media Cafe
111 W. Hastings at Abott St
Vancouver, BC
Salaam Canada and W2 Present the World Dance Party and performance in celebration of the Salaam Conference, Outgames – Human Rights Conference and Pride – featuring Troy Jackson, Burcu, Zenobia, Dee Adoresu (Jazz/Funk/R+), DJ MTS, Special Guest DJs, Belly Dancing, and more.
Sunday: July 31
March with Salaam: Queer Muslim Community, Trikone, Queer Ismailis and others in Vancouver Pride Parade!
Meeting b/n Burrard & Thurlow Streets on Robson Street @ 11 am.
August 1: Salaam Ramadhan Peace Iftar 7:30pm – 10:30pm
Kayan Restaurant
777 West Broadway, Second Floor
Vancouver, BC