Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Links

• For more information

Description

LGBTQ+ Muslim visibility has increased significantly in the realms of social science research and social media activism. However, this visibility does not translate into concrete support for family members of LGBTQ+ Muslims. This workshop explores the genesis, themes, and activities of Crescent Moon, a newly developed eight-session support group curriculum for family members of LGBTQ+ Muslims. Participants will have an opportunity for experiential learning by simulating curricular activities while also sharing their own reflections and feedback on this family intervention.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the psychosocial support needs of LGBTQ+ Muslims and their families
2. Explore approaches to creatively engage a culturally diverse (and sectarian) faith-based community
3. Engage with support topics relevant to family members of LGBTQ+ people, such as grief, acceptance, and allyship

Speaker Bio

Rahim Thawer works as a psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, facilitator and public speaker, sessional lecturer, writer, and community organizer. He has had a strong presence in Canada’s LGBTQ community since he began working in the HIV/AIDS sector in 2008. He was welcomed as an International Visiting Scholar with the South African College for Applied Psychology (SACAP) for the 2021-2022 academic year, and has supervised post-graduate counselling students and taught as a lecturer at multiple universities in Canada. He dedicated over a decade to LGBTQ Muslim community organizing in Canada and internationally. He’s an appointed Fellow at the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto for his contributions to the field of sexuality. He was also a co-editor and contributor for an anthology entitled Any Other Way: How Toronto Got Queer (shortlisted for the 2017 Toronto Book Awards).

Download: 2SLGBTQ+ Health Hub Lecture Crescent Moon