I don’t get asked this very often but when I do it’s always in a whisper and with a concerned look: “Do they know you’re… y’know?”
I’ve briefly mentioned a Muslim friend of mine or my Muslim neighbours or colleagues. And I’ve been interrupted by this urgently whispered question from an invariably White acquaintance.
“Do they know? ”
Yes.
For once and for always, YES.
My Muslim friends know I’m Jewish. This has literally never been a problem. I know you mean to imply there is a problem, that I should keep this hidden away from Muslim people… And I hear that you have Islamophobic beliefs and you assume that I will to. You think Jews and Muslims should fear each other. But you whisper because you know this isn’t acceptable – maybe some part of you knows it isn’t true.
My Muslim friends know I’m Jewish.
My Muslim friends know that I’m queer.
I don’t pretend to be anyone else, not in public, not at work, not at synagogue and definitely not at home.
I am queer and Jewish and if you think that means I can’t have genuine relationships with Muslim people, that says a lot more about you than about anyone else.
