Jihad for Love director films the lives of gay and lesbian Muslims in documentary, A

Shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, Parvez Sharma began paying close attention to the national discussion around religion. And the gay Muslim filmmaker said he felt the need to come out of the closet ? as a practicing Muslim. Sharma has made a new documentary about the lives of other gay and lesbian Muslims.

It addresses issues of tolerance, exile and immigration, and was filmed in 12 countries and nine languages. The film is called “A Jihad for Love.”

U.S. openings: New York City (May 21, 2008), Houston (June 20, 2008), Boston (June 27, 2008), Los Angeles (August 1, 2008), San Diego (August 8, 2008), San Francisco (August 22, 2008), Washington, D.C., (September 5, 2008).

Guest: Parvez Sharma, director/producer of the film, “A Jihad for Love”

Producer’s notes:

With rare exceptions, I’m drawn to stories of exile. And Parvez Sharma’s debut documentary speaks to one of the most invisible exile experiences one can imagine: that of lesbian and gay Muslims ostracized in the Islamic world and in Western nations, where some of the film’s subjects have sought refuge.

That’s a familiar storyline to Sharma, who moved to America from India in 2000. A few days before his film’s theatrical premiere in the United States, the director explained to me another kind of exile that was just as important in motivating him to create his feature-length doc. “I used to be a journalist,” Sharma sighed.

He added that journalism has done a poor job explaining the complexities and range of Islamic identity, post-9/11. But as Sharma’s made the rounds of international film fests, even he has received harsh criticism (as well as kudos) from other Muslims. Sharma takes it all in stride: “There’s not a fatwa on my head ? at this point.”

? Corey Takahashi, The Takeaway