Al-Jamaahl The Congregation; The Community; The Collective A Retreat for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer (LGBTQ)

Muslims (and their Partners) May 25-28, 2012 Philadelphia, PA

We gather together as a community of individuals who identify as Muslim culturally, religiously, ideologically and/or politically and also as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), while reconnecting with our faith, our community and with ourselves. "Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come." - Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi O men [women]! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware." - Quran (49:13) - Translated by Muhammad Asad

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Dear sisters, brothers, friends and allies, Welcome to the 2012 LGBTQ Muslim (and Partners) Retreat. This years theme, Al-Jamaah - follows-up on a very successful retreat held last year. Thanks to a wonderful planning committee, the 2012 retreat offers many new additions including session tracks and kinship groups. We hope these additions will add to the power of our welcoming and safe space of LGBTQ Muslims. This retreat would not be possible without the hard work of our planning committee; please take a moment to thank them for all their efforts to ensure this gathering is a success. We are excited to welcome you all to this beautiful retreat center and hope that each of you enjoys this weekend full of exciting events. Sincerely, Faisal Alam & Ty Power Co-Chairs, Planning Committee

Goals:
To gather together as a community of individuals who identify as Muslim culturally, religiously, ideologically and/or politically and also as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer.. To (re)connect with our faith, our community and with ourselves. To learn from each other and our community. To create new friendships within and amongst our community. To share our individual experiences with one another. To engage in spiritual worship and (re)gain a sense of peace within our lives. To engage in meaningful dialogue with each other around concerns facing our community. To develop new ways of communicating our needs and desires to members of our community. To empower each other with vision, clarity and sense of purpose. To create spheres of interest in writing, art, song, dance and other creative media. Behold in the Remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." [Al Quran 13:28] Indeed, I have rewarded them this Day for their patience; they are indeed the ones who are successful. [Al Quran 23:111]

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. Ill meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesnt make sense.
- Rumi

"If anyone continually asks forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, relief from anxiety, and will provide for him from where he never realized."
Prophet Muhammad, Abu Dawood, Hadith 599

Trans Ally Tips - Some Ways to be a Good Trans Ally

Always use the pronouns and name the person wants you to use. If youre unsure, ASK! If you make a mistake, correct yourself. Politelysubtly, if possiblecorrect others if they use the wrong pronoun for someone else. Dont assume all trans people identify as men or women. Some trans people and genderqueer people identify as both, neither, or something altogether different. At the same time, dont assume all trans people identify as both, neither or something else. Many trans people do identify as men or womenand want to be treated simply and clearly as the gender with which they identify. Dont confuse gender with sexual orientation. Trans people, like non-trans people, may be straight, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc. Gender is not tied to sexual preference. Dont tell others that someone is trans unless that person has given you permission to do so. This is especially important for people who have transitioned. Coming out as trans after transition means revealing personal medial historyit is not your right to share that information (not even to other trans or queer people). Instead of saying someone was born a boy or a girl, try saying they were assigned male at birth or assigned female at birth. The term assigned emphasizes the ways in which sex and gender are assigned to individuals at birth, rather than being innate, binary or immutable qualities. Using biological sex terms (e.g. male and female) helps to avoid confusing sex and gender (e.g. man and woman). Dont ask trans people about surgery or hormone status in general conversation. For example, dont ask when are you going to have the surgery? or are you on hormones? Like non-trans people, our medical histories and bodies can be intensely personal and private. If trans people want to share these details with you, allow them to do so on their own terms. (If you are going to have sex with a trans person, that would be an appropriate time to ask for guidance in relating to their body). Do listen if a transperson chooses to talk to you about their gender identity. Be honest about things you dont understanddont try to fake it! Dont assume the only way to transition is through hormones or surgery. Understand that medical transition is very often based on economic status. It is classist to assume that everyone who is a real trans person has access to health care and money to cover medical costs. Some trans people also do not want to transition physically. Dont assume all trans people feel trapped in the wrong body. This is an oversimplification and not the way all trans people feel. Recognize the diversity of trans and genderqueer lives. Remember that these identities are part of other identities, and intersect with race, class, sexual preference, age, etc. Dont ask trans people to educate you. Do your own homework and research. Understand that there is a difference between talking to individuals about their preferences/perspectives and forcing someone to be your educator. Try not to view individuals as spokespeople; the trans communities are diverse, not one monolithic voice or viewpoint.

Trans Ally Tips - continued

Recognize that trans women deal with sexism in a very real way (on top of transphobia). Recognize that trans women deserve access to women-only spaces/programs/shelters/etc. Recognize your privilege and prejudices as a normatively gendered person. Think about what makes you uncomfortable about transgender and try to understand why.

Dont let transphobia slide. Confront it as you would confront all other forms of oppression. Trans issues are rarely discussed & when they are it is often in a negative light. Transphobia is equally oppressive as (and works in conjunction with) sexism, homophobia, racism, classism, etc. Talk about trans issues/rights. Engage people in discussions and share your knowledge. The majority of information people have about trans issues is based on stereotypes & assumptions. To most people, trans folks are the freaks from Jerry Springer.| Be aware of the vital role you play as a non-trans person. Remember that the way you talk about trans people (e.g., using the right pronouns) influences how others perceive us. It can make a difference in whether we pass and whether we feel safe/comfortable. Always remember that people may be more likely to listen to and take cues from non-trans people than from trans people. What you say and do matters! Dont tokenize. Simply adding the T to LGB doesnt make you or your organization hip, progressive, or an ally. Make sure you have the resources, information and understanding to deserve that T. Dont refer to the LGBTQ community as the gay community. Some trans people and their partners are not gayand it trivializes lesbian and bisexual identities as well. The same goes for gay rights, the gay movement, gay culture, etc. Above all respect and support trans people in their lives and choices.
* With thanks to the LGBT Resource Center at UC Davis and Ty Jalal for their support and help in creating this list.

Resources to Learn About Transgender Concerns

National Center for Transgender Equality http://www.transequality.org

Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (February 2011) The National Transgender Discrimination Survey is the first large-scale national study of discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming Americans, and paints a more complete picture than any prior research to date. http://transequality.org/PDFs/Executive_Summary.pdf Teaching Transgender (January 2009) - A how-to guide for leading trainings about the lives of transgender people. http://transequality.org/Resources/NCTE_Teaching_Transgender.pdf Understanding Transgender People - http://transequality.org/Resources/NCTE_UnderstandingTrans.pdf Transgender Terminology - http://transequality.org/Resources NCTE_UnderstandingTrans.pdf

Picture from Muslims for Progressive Values DC Chapter - Eid-ul-Adha Prayer in Washington, DC, led by Pamela Taylor (2010) Credit to Glenn Koetzne

Creating Inclusive and Welcoming Spaces for Salaat (Prayer)

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, queer (LGBTQ) Muslims are often ostracized from their families and communities, leading many to stop practicing their faith. For some queer women and transgender people the challenges of stepping into a masjid (mosque) are confounded by gender segregation and the imposition of binary gender norms. The right to pray where we choose is often taken away from us. As LGBTQ Muslims who aim to create inclusive communities, we strive to create places of worship that are welcoming to all - regardless of ones sexual orientation or gender identity. We also welcome our partners, families of choice and allies to participate in a religious ritual that brings great meaning to our lives. With these thoughts in mind, our retreat welcomes each and every one to participate in the daily salaat (prayers) and we offer the following thoughts on creating inclusive places of worship, including this retreat:

Whether you pray regularly or not, we invite you to this open and welcoming space. We understand that prayer is filled with great pain for many of us - and we offer you support and love as you join the congregation. You may wear whatever clothing you are most comfortable in. As an inclusive community we do not judge each other. You may stand wherever you feel most comfortable. Men and women are welcome to pray side-by-side and next to one another. We are one community. Women are encouraged and welcome to lead prayer. As a community committed to social justice we understand that we must break the bonds of sexism and male privilege. Allah, our Creator alone knows what is in our hearts. And we seek the Divines guidance in all that we do.

Workshop & Session Tracks & Descriptions

Community Building LGBTQ Muslims continue to discover that they are not alone in their journey to reconcile their sexuality or gender identity with their faith. As we continue to grow, it is important to create and sustain local communities that provide social and spiritual support, and engage in political activism. Workshops and sessions within this track will focus on strategies to create, build and sustain local communities for LGBTQ Muslims that are part of a national and global vision for greater peace and justice for all Muslim sexual and gender minorities. Health and Wellness As queer Muslims, we may feel the stress of intersecting oppressions both psychologically and physically. How do we maintain our mental health? How do have safe(r) sex? How do we navigate life with HIV/ AIDS? How do we best care for the bodies Allah bestowed to us? We call for workshops that will help participants to increase their health and wellness. Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Workshops provide Retreat participants opportunities to explore and learn about the variety of LGBTQ Muslim experiences, to offer each other support, and to learn what specific challenges or needs each of us may face. Workshops may focus on diversity and inclusion issues relating to a specific group (e.g., gender, class, ethnicity and race), or across several groups, highlighting intersections and shared experiences (including but not limited to: sects, race, gender, age, ability, class, etc.). Workshops may also provide opportunities to explore and analyze social justice, human rights, anti-oppression, and privilege that each of us holds in relation to someone else (e.g. an able-bodied Black lesbian born-Muslim in relation to a disabled White gay man convert). This track can also be a place to explore the rich diversity of sects and traditions within Islam, to share experiences and tools on how to be an ally to each other (transgender ally, anti-racist work, converts & reverts within our communities, etc.), as well as experiences and lessons from civil rights and other forms of movement-building, coalition work, and advocacy. Arts, Media, & Culture Workshops in this track offer participants opportunities to explore creative self-expression and/or community-expression (writing, visual arts, storytelling/theatre, etc.). They can also provide opportunities to learn and explore creative uses of social media, other digital technologies and arts activism. Please note there will be a talent/no talent show and access to an art studio throughout the retreat. Islamic Education, Spirituality & Faith By definition, many activities and discussions at the LGBTQ Muslim Retreat will relate to faith and spirituality. Our Islamic Education, Spirituality & Faith track, however, focuses specifically on these areas. Faith-based activities such as salaat (ritual daily prayer) and dhikr (chanting meditation) are already on the schedule, but other sessions in this track might include educational workshops about Islamic practices, specific sects and schools of thought, or other spiritual enrichment activities. We hope to offer a range of session to address the needs of our diverse attendees. Last year's retreat included workshops included an introductory workshop on how to perform salaat (ritual daily prayer), a more advanced session on how to lead prayer, and a session for those struggling with faith.

Friday, May 25, 2012

12:00 pm5:00 pm 12:00 pm5:00 pm 1:00 pm2:00 pm 2:00 pm2:30 pm 2:30 pm4:30 pm 4:30 pm5:00 pm 5:00 pm5:15 pm 5:15 pm6:15 pm 6:15 pm6:30 pm 6:30 pm7:10 pm 7:10 pm7:30 pm 7:30 pm8:15 pm Participants Arrive Registration & Check-In Lunch

Salaat-ul-Juma Friday Prayer Khutbah (sermon) on What is Al-Jamaah? for LGBTQ Muslims
Free Time & Tours of Retreat Center Scholarship Recipients Meet & Greet

Salaat-ul-Asr Afternoon
Welcome, Group Agreements and Principles of Understanding Break Dinner Break Understanding Gender

What is gender? How is gender formulated? Is gender assigned at birth or is it learned as we grow up? What is the difference between gender, sex and sexual orientation? These and other questions will be explored in this interactive group workshop. 8:15 pm8:45 pm 8:45 pm9:45 pm 9:45 pm10:15 pm

Salaat-ul-Maghrib - Evening Prayer & Reflection

Kinship Groups, Ginger Bread Man, Gender & Tea

Salaat-ul-Isha - Night Prayer

Saturday, May 26, 2012

5:00 am6:15 am

Salaat-ul-Fajr - Dawn Prayer & Zikr (Meditation)

Fajr means the dawn prayer that is recited before sunlight grows bright. We will meet every
morning early for dawn prayer in a group. Immediately after the formal prayer we will form a zikr circle. Zikr is an Islamic meditation practice that invokes the Divine presence through Gods most beautiful names (asma allah al-husna). It is a Sufi practice to create tranquility, peace of mind and open the heart. 6:15 am8:00 am 6:30 am7:45 am Free Time Yoga

Saturday, May 26, 2012 (continued)

8:00 am8:30 am 8:30 am9:00 am 9:00 am10:15 am i) Muslim Prayer 101 This workshop will explore salaat or prayer in Islam. What are the different forms of prayer? Are there informal and personal ways of praying in addition to the formal and congregational types of prayer? Do I have to pray in Arabic only? How do women participate in prayer? What are symbolic meanings of different parts of the prayer ritual like postures, invocations and washing? This workshop will explore these questions and demonstrate different approaches. ii) Transgender Muslims In a reversal of the usual pattern of expanding lesbian and gay affirming religious policies to include transgender, the Islamic world has seen orthodox religious leaders affirm transgender while leaving LGB Muslims out in the cold. This presentation will inform participants about the unique religious support for transgender Muslims, the hope and benefits it offers, and why it is not a simple success story for the LGBTQ Muslim community, or even for all transgender Muslims. iii) Desire and Otherness This workshop will be survey of pieces from classical Muslim literature which articulate "alternative" forms of desire and being. The workshop will invite discussion on select translated pieces from the literary works of Abu Nuwas, Jahiz, Rumi, Hafiz, Waris Shah, Hussein Lal, Ghalib and Mir. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on and unpack themes of same-sex desire, alternative-sexuality and gender ambiguity that exist (strongly!) in our collective literary heritage as Muslims. The goal of this workshop is to resuscitate modes of articulating desire that have vanished from Muslim societies in modernity. Participants will be invited to compose short pieces relying on these models and registers, and then share with the larger group! .iv) Struggling with Islam Many Muslims are taught that Islam condemns homosexuality and that being LGBTQ and Muslim is incompatible. As LGBTQ Muslims we are often told that Allah hates us and that we are destined to hell. How do these intolerant and negative messages affect our view of our faith? How do you currently view your relationship with Islam? Has your perspective changed over time, or in different phases of your life? How has your upbringing affected your relationship with Islam? This workshop invites participants to a safe and open space to talk about their relationships with their faith of Islam and how their views affect their lives as LGBTQ Muslims. 10:15 am10:30 am Break Breakfast Break Workshop Session #1

Saturday, May 26, 2012 (continued)

10:30 am12:00 pm Plenary #1: Anti-Oppression Framework in our Community As our wonderfully diverse Queer Muslim community grows, it is essential that we take the time to explore what being an intentionally welcoming, inclusive, and anti-oppressive community looks like. During this plenary we will unpack the terms power, privilege and oppression and consider how dynamics of each impact our lives individually and in community. This plenary will include conversation about race and gender as key areas of focus. In addition to looking at our diversity and individual relationships to power, privilege and oppression, key questions will be: what does being intentionally inclusive and anti-oppressive look like for me in this community and what does it look like for the community as a whole? 12:00 pm12:20 pm 12:20 pm1:00 pm 1:00 pm1:15 pm 1:15 pm1:30 pm 1:30 pm3:00 pm 3:00 pm3:15 pm 3:15 pm4:15 pm Break Lunch Break

Salaat-ul-Zuhr - Mid-Day Prayer

Plenary #1 Continued Break * Free Time * White Folks Caucus * People of Color Caucus * Recovery & 12-Step Meeting Break Workshop Session #2

4:15 pm4:30 pm 4:30 pm5:45 pm

i) Alternative Worship: Zikr Most people associate the practice of Islam with strict and narrow orthodoxy or with the "5 Pillars". But there is much more to spirituality in the Islamic tradition. This workshop will explore zikr or "remembrance of God", which includes various types of meditation and contemplation from the Sufi tradition. The goal of zikr is to purify the heart and clarify the mind and increase the values of love, compassion and patience in each person. Zikr can be practiced in a group or individually, and has much in common with other religious traditions. ii) Sex Justice: Healing from Shame We have come of sexual age in a society that discredits our sexualities as abnormal or pathological. Within our Muslim communities, anything outside of heterosexual marriage is rendered invisible or condemned. This is a recipe for shame and confusion, often leading to difficulty in making healthy choices when it comes to sex, romance and love. This workshop will explore the tensions we face in our sexual lives and how we can transcend the shame and begin to lead fulfilling and healthy sexual lives.

Saturday, May 26, 2012 (continued)

iii) Pros and Cons of Coming Out This workshop will discuss the advantages and disadvantages to coming out to loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors. It will discuss our personal struggles with this, issues that impact decisions about it, and reservations regarding it. The workshop will share stories of those who have come out to those around them, looking at success stories and also those who regret having come out. We will explore how the issue could have been handled differently and how one can plan for a better outcome. iii) Disability Justice Disability justice is a multifaceted understanding of disability and ableism that promotes justice and wholeness for all disabled people in our communities. Disability justice centers those traditionally marginalized in mainstream disability movements, especially queer disabled and chronically ill people of color, women, and gender non-conforming folks. It asks how we can understand our bodies and selves in a way that does not privilege the "normal" and perpetuate cycles of oppression. In this workshop, we will look at the history of disability movements in the U.S. and the emerging disability justice movement, to explore how disability is understood in the context of social justice. Finally, we will look at how disability justice can be used as a framework for building community in a way that is fully inclusive and sustainable. 5:45 pm6:00 pm 6:00 pm - 6:40 pm 6:40 pm - 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:30 pm 7:30 pm 8:15 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm 8:30 pm - 8:45 pm 8:45 pm - 10:15 pm Break Dinner Break

Salaat-ul-Asr - Afternoon Prayer & Reflection

Musical Performance Break

Salaat-ul-Maghrib - Evening Prayer

Performance: Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love

Q&A to follow
10:15 pm - 10:30 pm

Salaat-ul-Isha

Sunday, May 27, 2012

5:00 am - 6:15 am 6:15 am - 8:00 am 8:00 am - 8:30 am 8:40 am 10:00 am 9:00 am 9:45 am 10:00 am 11:15 am

Salaat-ul-Fajr (Morning Prayer) & Zikr

Free Time Breakfast Free Time Recovery & 12-Step Meeting Plenary Session 2: Demystifying our Origins and Reclaiming Tradition

LGBTQ Muslim voices are often silenced within larger discourses about the Ummahs sacred history. A deeper knowledge of this history is a means to access these discourses, reclaim power and assert our place within the Ummah. This interactive plenary session will provide participants with a broad framework of inquiry into Islams sacred history. We will address three specific questions: (a) What are the primary sources from which early Islamic history is constructed? (b) What were the processes that drove the development of these sources? and (c) What factors produced the canonical Sunni and Shii narratives about Islams origins? Our goal is to destabilize the narratives that most of us grew up with, to highlight alternative readings of these foundational sources and to start a discussion on how we can reclaim our part in Islams sacred history. The plenary will make these topics accessible, inviting and exciting for a non-academic audience. It will incorporate a short presentation of images of historically significant early Islamic manuscripts and artifacts, and lead participants in an interactive activity that recreates and demystifies the complex process of hadith transmission. 11:15 am 11:30 pm 11:30 am 12:45 pm Break Workshop Session 3

i) Religious Diversity in Islam The Muslim community is in fact very diverse, but often people grow up in a tight community and don't see or experience the diversity. Sectarian diversity is part of Islam since its beginning. But often mosques and schools are divide by sectarian allegiance. In our LGBTQ Muslim network, we meet people from very different backgrounds. We should know more about each other, including our sectarian allegiances. We should be aware of differences in the way we think about Islam, articulate our faith, practice our rituals. ii) Allah, Quran and Human Sexual Relationships: Finding Your Way As A LGBTQ Muslim For a large number of single queer Muslims, obtaining a "halaal" relationship most of the time causes much tribulation and discomfort because they are not open to being "completely and absolutely hedonistic" as it relates to sexual activities. What is a halaal relationship requirements for gay Muslims? How do you know if you're centered in a require a more formal commitment, but can be sexually fulfilling.

Sunday, May 27, 2012 (continued)

solid Muslim orientation with Allah? The focus of this workshop is to have participants look at their individual situations, and look at some of these questions. Participants are encouraged to come and share their likes and dislikes about the secular gay scene and those activities that exemplify that culture. We will also look at, and compare their likes and dislikes about the Muslim religious scene and activities that exemplify that culture. It is through these two lenses that we look for a person to partner. We will discuss how one achieves their goal of building a healthy, respectful and spiritually-founded Muslim relationships. We will look at a few Quranic passages, the issues surrounding mut'ah, what is nikah, and look at other forms of human relationship that does not necessarily iii) Coming Out Muslim: A Writing Workshop In this workshop participants will explore the intersections of Islam and queerness and its relationship to family, lovers, ones sense of self and relationship with our faith through writing prompts and movement. iv) HIV 101 This workshop will permit participants to explore some of the ways that HIV/AIDS matters to each of us and why--especially as Muslims--it should. Topics covered may include Islamic sexual ethics (monogamy, polygamy, sexual relations with a contract or nikah, safer sex, etc.), ethics of self-care, of delivering care, of non-discrimination, of inclusion (both as a Muslim community and as a Progressive Queer community), and Islamic ethics of mercy, forgiveness, and compassion for ourselves and for each other (even including if we mess up in the workshop, potentially offensive terms out of ignorance.). The presenters will have some Qur'anic citations and hadith to share, but hope to create a space to discuss these issues from each of our personal experiences and interpretations, and how this relates to our efforts to build a community. If time permits, we will include a brief review of how HIV/AIDS is dealt with in some Muslimmajority countries (prevention, treatment, anti-discrimination, etc.). Depending on participants level of awareness, we may include a quick review of what HIV and AIDS are and the methods of HIV transmission and prevention. 1:00 pm - 1:40 pm 1:40 pm 2:00 pm 2:00 pm2:30 pm 2:30 pm 5:15 pm 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Supper (Main Meal for Sunday) Break

Salaat-ul-Zuhr - Mid-Day Prayer & Reflection

Free Time or Other Activities * Becoming a Muslim Man/Woman (Transgender Caucus) * Making Flower Arrangements, Muslim Style * Recovery and 12 Step Meeting * Participant-led Caucuses

3:15 pm - 3:45 pm

Break

Sunday, May 27, 2012 (continued)

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Mens Caucus Womens Caucus Youth Caucus (18-25 years old) Non-Muslim Partners Caucus Break

5:00 pm - 5:15 pm 5:15 pm - 5:45 pm 5:45 pm - 6:00 pm 6:30 pm7:10 pm 7:10 pm - 7:30 pm 7:30 pm8:30 pm 8:30 pm8:45 pm 8:45 pm 9:00 pm 9:00 pm 10:45 pm 10:45 pm 11:00 pm

Salaat-ul-Asr - Afternoon Prayer & Reflection

Break (Light) Dinner Break Caucus for People of Mixed Heritage Caucus for People Who Have Converted Break

Salaat-ul-Maghrib - Evening Prayer

Evening of Sharing: Talent / No Talent Show

Salaat-ul-Isha - Night Prayer

Monday, May 28, 2012

5:00 am6:15 am 6:15 am - 8:00 am 8:00 am8:30 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 9:00 am - 9:45 am 9:45 am - 10:00 am 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Salaat-ul-Fajr - Morning Prayer & Zikr

Free Time Breakfast Recovery and 12 Step Meeting Participant Feedback Session Break Plenary 3: Building Progressive Communities

Our panelists will explore the challenges and opportunities they have encountered in their organizing efforts to build Muslim communities that are progressive and inclusive. The political atmosphere and Islamophobia facing Muslims in the West may be an opportunity to build coalitions and alliances with mainstream Muslim organizations. Strategies that have worked and methods that have not been as successful will be explored. The history of the progressive Muslim

Monday, May 28, 2012 (continued)

community in the United States and Canada will be discussed. The panelists will also offer concrete steps that you can take back to our community to begin to build progressive Muslim communities. 11:30 - 12:00 pm 12:00 pm - 12:20 pm 12:20 pm - 1:00 pm 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm 2:00 pm Onwards 2:00 pm 3:30 pm Closing, Evaluations & Survey Break Lunch Packing & Checking Out of Rooms

Salaat-ul-Zuhr - Afternoon Prayer

Departures Meeting to Plan for Next Years Retreat

Plenary, Workshop & Session Tracks

Health and Wellness Community Building * HIV 101 * Sex Justice: Healing from Shame * Struggling with Islam * Pros and Cons of Coming Out * Allah, Quran and Human Sexual Relationships -- Finding Your Way As A LGBT Muslim Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice * Disability Justice * Religious Diversity in Islam * Transgender Muslims * Plenary 2: Developing an Anti-Oppression Framework in our Community Arts, Media, & Culture * Coming Out Muslim: Writing Workshop * Desire and Otherness * Flower Arrangements: Muslim Style * Plenary 3: Building Progressive Communities * Caucuses Islamic Education, Spirituality & Faith * Muslim Prayer 101 * Alternative Worship: Zikr * Religious Diversity in Islam * Desire and Otherness * Allah, Quran and Human Sexual Relationships-* Finding Your Way As A LGBT Muslim * Transgender Muslims * Plenary 2: Demystifying our Origins and Reclaiming Tradition