I speak with the wonderful Jimmy Bangash on his experiences growing up gay in the Muslim community and the pain, self doubt and self hatred caused by Islamic beliefs. You can support Jimmy at http://freeheartsfreeminds.com

YouTube version of this podcast: https://youtu.be/uYCG9wAxuaA

Timestamps for the podcast:

0:00 Introductions1:05 Jimmy's background as a gay Muslim.3:30 Memorizing the Quran even without understanding the archaic Arabic used to write the book - What is the utility of this exercise? Incentivizing/bribing kids to read the Quran12:45 The presuppositions made by Muslims and the cognitive dissonance that ensues from such claims.16:35 What were some of the conflicting values between Islamic teachings and western secular education? - The process of compartmentalizing these teachings.23:00 How much tribalistic teachings are there in other cultures and religions compared to Islam?30:25 The Israel and Palestine issue and how tribalism plays a part in this discussion - Muslims are vocal on this issue only and not any other human rights abuses because they are concerned for Muslim people’s rights and not for all human rights.44:45 How secular education and secular humanistic values can solve most of the problems being faced in Muslim communities.46:55 The need to separate Muslims and Islam when criticizing Islam and the stages that ex-Muslims go through as they leave Islam. Is criticizing Islam feeding anti-Muslim hate or these accusations are used to shut down any criticism of the Muslim communities?1:00:50 Is the extra scrutiny and condemnation of Islamic teachings a result of the Muslim community not taking accountability and responsibility for the harm caused by their teachings and blindly pushing the "Islam is perfect" narrative? Why are activists critical of Islam particularly women being accused of fueling anti-Muslim bigotry? Is there any winning in these discussions?1:19:25 The problems in Islam - rape, lack of consent, not valuing human rights - are not limited to Islam but Islam takes them to a whole other level. The problem of Islamic teachings mixing with violent cultures. What does extremism have to do with Islam?1:22:45 What does the rampant misogyny in the Muslim community have to do with Islam?1:30:25 How true is the "Things are changing the narrative"? What are the differences between UK and US Muslims1:34:10 It is important to keep pushing back on Islamic teachings and not surrendering public spaces to extremists.1:35:55 The false equivocation of homosexuality to pedophilia by Muslims - Are they the same? Is being gay a choice? How the Islamic clergy fights against reforming laws on child marriage, consent, and women's bodily autonomy. Incest and child marriage in the Muslim community.1:50:27 Pedophilia in the Asian community.1:51:24 Is being gay a test from Allah.1:52:35 Jimmy's social media handle.1:55:30 Final remarks