Watch: What is life like as a Muslim drag queen?
By Will Stroude
What is life like as a Muslim drag queen?
A new Guardian short film follows the story of Ali, a gay Pakistani aslylum-seeker and practising Muslim who left his home country after facing persecution for his sexuality.
Mentored by Asifa Lahore – who became Britain’s first out Muslim drag queen in 2011 – Ali began his career as a drag queen just two months ago. The film follows Ali on the night of his first ever onstage performance, and showcases the very real struggles he faces from within his community as well people on the street.
Saying that pursuing a career in drag is “a constant fear because of people’s reaction” Ali says Asifa’s gay night “feels like home.”
“My thinking was wrong,” says adds after his first ever performance. “Rather than saying ‘Oh I’m scared and I’m this and I’m that’ – no. I can do this now.”
Watch the video in full below, or see the original here.
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