‘Muslim Drag Queens’ trends on Twitter as celebs tweet support
By Nick Bond
Groundbreaking documentary Muslim Drag Queens finally aired on Channel 4 last night and soon became the top trending topic on Twitter, with viewers and a smattering of high-profile celebs tweeting their support for the subjects of the documentary.
Narrated by Sir Ian McKellen and with a cast of documentary subjects including Attitude Pride Award winner Asifa Lahore, the program shone a light on one of the most hidden pockets of the UK’s wider LGBT community: LGBT Muslims, and in particular, Muslim drag queens.
Little Mix’s resident drag aficionado, Jade, hopped onto the band’s account to tweet her love and support:
And other well-known faces and organisations tweeted their support for the show and its inspiring subjects:
All LGBT should be free to be themselves without fear of persecution or isolation. Acceptance without exception. #MuslimDragQueens
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) August 24, 2015
Well done for challenging attitudes & opinions @Channel4, and well done for being your amazing self @AsifaLahore! #MuslimDragQueens
— Ranj Singh (@DrRanj) August 24, 2015
Congratulations to #MuslimDragQueens & @Channel4. Great film about hidden, often victimised UK #gaysian community. Now defend their rights
— Peter Tatchell (@PeterTatchell) August 24, 2015
That was some good telly. Well done @Channel4 and most importantly well done @AsifaLahore for just doing your thing. #MuslimDragQueens
— Andrew Hayden-Smith (@AndrewHaydSmith) August 24, 2015
Among the avalanche of loving messages, though, it was hard to ignore the minority of tweets that ranging from disapproving to downright vile – a reminder of just how brave Lahore and her peers were to appear in the documentary. Lahore tweeted supporters her thanks after the show, saying that the screening was “the start of something brand new”:
Thank you for the overwhelming love and support. My family and I are happy and safe. Proud to be a #MuslimDragQueen
— Asifa Lahore (@AsifaLahore) August 24, 2015
#MuslimDragQueens this is the start of something brand new 🙂
— Asifa Lahore (@AsifaLahore) August 24, 2015
https://twitter.com/AsifaLahore/status/635921108152254465