Hidden Voices: Pakistan

‘My mother believes being with a woman will change things’.

In this episode we speak to Shameel (He/Him) a gay man from Pakistani. Shameel talks to us about his life in Pakistani and how his family feel about his homosexuality. We also discussed the barriers in Pakistani and also the support groups that are there to help people from different sexual and gender minorities. Read below to hear more about him:

‘I’m 31 years old, I am currently studying my masters in Germany. I first came out to my sister and my mother, however being gay is against their religion and beliefs so they believe if I marry a woman I will change. On the streets, you can’t speak out about your sexuality or practice homosexuality or you may be cast out, frowned upon or punished. However, there are support groups in Pakistani that people can reach out to for help and support, I choose to handle it myself and had some support from friends. I choose to move to Germany not only for better opportunities but to be able to live freely as a gay man’.