Season 3 is titled "Queer Voices"

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"Elevate Your Life: A Transformational Podcast"

Farhan Dhalla

Zain Bandali is an author, poet, and unapologetic diversity advocate. His debut children's book Mehndi Boy, is a Silver Birch Express Nominee and was recognized as a “Best Bet” by the Ontario Library Association and as a “Best Book for Kids” by the New York Public Library in 2023. Zain studied at the University of Waterloo and was awarded the Upkar Arora Social Impact Leadership Scholarship for his work in creating a grassroots community initiative. Even in his day job as an HR professional at a leading financial corporation, Zain strives to bring the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion to everything he does. He is an avid vegetable gardener but cannot always stomach the chilli peppers he grows. In this episode we dive into conversations about Zain’s Queerness as a South Asian, Indo-Tanzanian, Ismaili Muslim, his debut book and how he’s pushing the gender norm narrative. We also discuss his love for international recording artist Ali Sethi and his advice for anyone struggling with being true to themselves.

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#gay #gaypodcast #mehndi #queer #queerpodcast #islam #navroz #lgtbq

Imam Daayiee is the first openly Gay Imam in the United States. He was born in Detroit Michigan and the son of Southern Baptist parents and converted to Islam at the age of 30. He is the author of the book titled “Progressive Islam: The Rich Liberal Ideas of the Muslim Faith”(2021), He is the Founder and ED of the nonprofit MECCA Institute, and CEO of MECCA Institute Publishing LLC. He is the Former Imam of the Light of Reform Mosque, Washington, DC (2010-2015). Imam Daayiee is a linguist and holds Masters Degrees in Chinese and Arabic languages and linguistics, and a scholar of Quranic Interpretation and Shari’ah Sciences. To continue to add to his impressive bio he is also a former public interest lawyer specializing in comparative Islamic and Western law. He is currently working on his second book to be released in 2024. In this episode we explore what it's like being an openly gay imam, his educational pursuits, activism, why he opened an all inclusive mosque:"Light of Reform Mosque," the MECCA Institute and a lot more.

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TEDx Talk

Website: The MECCA Institute

Facebook Group: The MECCA Institute

Facebook Group: Light of Reform Mosque

If you wish to support the show please donate to Buy Me A Coffee! Thank you! ⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/farhandhalla