August 19, 2003
Source: Reuters
On August 19, 2003 Reuters reported that "being gay and Muslim, especially after Sept. 11, 2001, is a unique act of defiance requiring homosexuals to defend their religious identity in the face of an increasingly suspicious U.S. government and sexual orientation amid hostility from the conservative Islamic community... Many would rather deny their sexuality than sacrifice family, friends, culture or religion by coming out of the closet... But some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Muslims are finding a safe haven in Al-Fatiha, a Washington, D.C.-based group founded in 1998 to provide support for those who want to reconcile their sexual orientation with Islam."