Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD) is a left-of-center advocacy group that claims to represent and advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Muslims.

The group purports to challenge capitalism, and xenophobia and to support LGBT Muslims with resources, digital programming, conferences, and promoting a left-wing interpretation of Islam.

MASGD is a fiscally sponsored project of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Background

Although Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity was created as an informal working group in 2011, it was officially launched in January 2013 at an LGBT conference in Atlanta, Georgia, with the aim of providing support, advocacy, and education for LGBT Muslims. ¹

In 2014, MASGD was chosen to be the home of the annual Queer Muslim Retreat. In 2016, MASGD hosted a discussion between LGBT Muslims and heterosexual Muslims after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub carried out by Omar Mateen in Orlando, Florida. ^{2 3}

Activities

Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity purports to challenge capitalism, and xenophobia and to support LGBT Muslims with resources, digital programming, conferences, and promoting a left-wing interpretation of Islam. ⁴ It is led by a staff that purports to be all-volunteer comprised intentionally of multiracial and mixed-gender individuals, designed as such to be “representative of the myriad communities that comprise LGBT and Muslim.” ⁵

MASGD’s primary focus is to support and empower LGBT Muslims and fight against the “root causes of oppression, misogyny, and xenophobia.” MASGD seeks to decrease the stigma of LGBT identities within Islam, promote tolerance of nontraditional lifestyles, as well as promote a progressive interpretation of Islam that would understand the religion to be “centered on inclusion, justice, and equality.” ⁶

According to Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, by advocating for LGBT Muslims, MASGD represents a group of individuals that are “margins within the margins at the intersections of xenophobia, Islamophobia, gender-based oppression, racism (including colorism and anti-Black bias), and patriarchy.” ⁷

In the wake of the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, MASGD released a statement condemning the “racist murders” and the “culture of anti-Black racism and police violence that allow these murders to happen.” The organization stated it was “heartened by the courageous rebellions erupting around the country, often with Black trans, queer, and Muslim leadership” and claimed the police “are not here to serve us. They never have. They never will.” It voiced its support for an “abolitionist framework that seeks to abolish the police and dismantle systems of militarization, incarceration and surveillance” and advocated for American communities to “defund and divest from historically racist structures.” ⁸

Funding

Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity receives funding from Funding Queerly Giving Circle, which is housed in Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. ⁹

MASGD is a fiscally sponsored project of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2018, it received a $50,000 grant from Wellspring Philanthropic Fund. ¹⁰

Leadership

As of 2023, Mx Yaffa was the executive director of the organization. Safae was listed as the executive program coordinator. ¹¹

1. “The MASGD.” TheMASGD.org. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.themasgd.org/.
2. “The MASGD.” TheMASGD.org. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.themasgd.org/.
3. Ellis, Ralph; Fantz, Ashley; Karimi, Faith; and McLaughlin, Eliott C. “Orlando shooting: 49 killed, shooter pledged ISIS allegiance.” CNN.com, June 13, 2016. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/index.html.
4. ^[1] “Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity—Donate via AB.” ActBlue.com. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.themasgd.org/black-lives.
5. “Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD).” Astraea Foundation. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/muslim-alliance-for-sexual-and-gender-diversity-masgd/.
6. “Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD).” Astraea Foundation. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/muslim-alliance-for-sexual-and-gender-diversity-masgd/.
7. “Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD).” Astraea Foundation. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/muslim-alliance-for-sexual-and-gender-diversity-masgd/.
8. “On the Fight for Black Lives.” TheMASGD. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.themasgd.org/black-lives.
9. “Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD).” Astraea Foundation. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.astraeafoundation.org/stories/muslim-alliance-for-sexual-and-gender-diversity-masgd/.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Wellspring Philanthropic Fund. 2018. Part XV – 3. Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.
11. “The MASGD.” TheMASGD.org. Accessed April 23, 2023. https://www.themasgd.org/.