This is when Il Grande Colibri learned about Haseeb’s story and took the opportunity to interview him about his identity as a gay Muslim from Pakistan. Haseeb found himself with no place to go and had no choice but to take shelter at a friend’s place. Haseeb has always been an independent person, he left his parents’ house early on since his family wanted him to either change his sexual orientation or leave. During grade school, college and even in his professional life, he felt cornered, exposed to bullying by family members, classmates and colleagues. Like other gay boys, Haseeb tried his best to be accepted but nothing ever worked for him. Haseeb Rathore is a young gay man from Lahore, Pakistan who “recognized himself” and felt different from others at a very young age, but was not allowed to express his feelings. All the major sects of Islam have completely forbidden homosexuality but the existence of an homosexual population cannot be denied in Pakistani society.
Because the entire society is heavily influenced by religion, homosexuality remains a taboo. Furthermore, he country’s independence inherited many British Era laws including Article 377: the most petitioned against gay men. Ever since its creation, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been influenced by various Islamic ideologies coming from different governments.
