Saima Razzaq: Difference between revisions

Razzaq is well known for her activism on race, gender, racism and [[LGBT social movements|LGBT+ rights]] in the United Kingdom. She is a founding member and co-chair of SEEDS (Supporting the Education of Equality in Schools), which was formed by teachers as a 1,000-member network in response to [[Education and the LGBT community|protests against LGBT inclusive education]] outside schools in Birmingham, specifically the ''No Outsiders'' programme created by school teacher [[Andrew Moffat]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-21|title=Birmingham school row: ‘This'This is made out to be just Muslims v gays. It’sIt's not’not'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/21/birmingham-anderton-park-primary-school-row-parents-teachers-demonstrators|access-date=2021-12-21|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The group is dedicated to promoting the education of equality and diversity in schools, including LGBT+ inclusive education throughout primary and secondary school.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Faith In Our Community with Panel Discussion with SEEDS|url=https://shoutfestival.co.uk/events/faith-in-our-community-with-panel-discussion-with-seeds/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Shout Festival|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-22|title=LGBT+ group reach out to protesting parents who shut down same-sex relationships classes|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lgbt-seeds-parkfield-community-school-birmingham-protest-no-outsiders-a8835761.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

During the [[Anderton Park Primary School]] protests in 2019, Razzaq was a mediator between teachers, parent groups and the city's LGBT community, working to challenge both [[homophobia]] and [[Islamophobia]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-03-29|title=LGBT people 'never felt more vulnerable' in Birmingham|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-47742085|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-04-01|title=White middle-class people should not ‘point'point fingers’fingers' at parents protesting against equality lessons, diversity campaigner says|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lgbt-lesson-birmingham-parents-protest-muslims-trojan-horse-a8846616.html|access-date=2021-12-21|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> She said that “as a Pakistani Muslim I do often feel caught in the middle of two conflicting communities. As much as inherent homophobia and transphobia exists within my community we must also recognise the inherent racism within LGBTQI community."<ref>{{Cite web|last=ABPL|title='No Outsiders': The fight between education, religion and mis-information...|url=https://www.asian-voice.com/Community/%27No-Outsiders%27-The-fight-between-education,-religion-and-mis-information|access-date=2021-12-21|website=www.asian-voice.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> She also said she felt uncomfortable with the media creating a “them and us” narrative which demonised her community for holding prejudicial views that existed in wider British society.<ref>{{Cite news|lastlast1=Lathigra|firstfirst1=Kalpesh|last2=Khan|first2=Aina J.|date=2022-02-03|title=Why Claiming British Identity Is Complicated|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/podcasts/trojan-horse-affair-british-identity.html|access-date=2022-02-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Razzaq has voiced her support for [[Decolonizing|decolonising]] the national curriculum<ref>{{Cite web|title=Curriculum Liberation Calendar|url=https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/academic-development/coursedirectory/curlibcal/?start=29112019&tag=People+of+Colour&view=daily|access-date=2021-12-21|website=warwick.ac.uk}}</ref> and LGBT spaces to make them more inclusive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pridehousebham/status/1424792889054437380|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> She has praised [[UK Black Pride]] as a model for LGBT events.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mahmood|first=Basit|date=2019-07-07|title='Racism is rife in LGBT spaces, that’sthat's why we needed Black Pride'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/07/racism-rife-lgbt-spaces-needed-black-pride-10129241/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Metro|language=en}}</ref> In August 2021, she was appointed Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Birmingham Pride.

In February 2022, a guest speaker lecture by Razzaq at the [[University of Birmingham]] was reportedly cancelled by senior members of the university after she asked for a change of venue, so as not to cross the picket line in solidarity with striking academic staff. She was due to give a lecture on intersectionality, inclusivity and diversity as an official representative of Birmingham Pride during [[LGBT History Month]] but was unable to do so. It was later rescheduled by the university.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasta |first=Anisah |date=2022-02-17 |title=Guest lecturer claims talk 'axed' over refusal to cross picket line |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/university-birmingham-guest-lecturer-axed-23126123 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-23 |title=Everything that has happened in the first two weeks of strikes in Birmingham |url=https://thetab.com/uk/birmingham/2022/02/23/everything-that-has-happened-in-the-first-two-weeks-of-strikes-at-birmingham-51273 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=University of Birmingham |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-05 |title=Lecture ‘Cancelled’'Cancelled' After Guest Speaker Refused to Cross Picket Line {{!}} Redbrick News |url=https://www.redbrick.me/lecture-cancelled-after-guest-speaker-refused-to-cross-picket-line/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Redbrick}}</ref>

Razzaq is openly lesbian and is critical of parents who do not support their child's sexuality.<ref>{{Cite news|title=School LGBT protests 'really upsetting'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-47745911|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref> She did not come out to her family until she was 29.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title=South Asian Heritage Month: The history-maker who led Birmingham's Pride Parade|url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2021-08-10/south-asian-heritage-month-the-history-maker-who-led-birminghams-pride-parade|access-date=2021-12-21|website=ITV News|language=en}}</ref> She is a Muslim.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBC Radio 4 – The Exchange, Faith and Sexuality|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ydmc|access-date=2021-12-21|website=BBC|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=What’sWhat's on TV and radio tonight: Wednesday, August 4|newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/whats-on-tv-and-radio-tonight-wednesday-august-4-kh8bmn2ts|access-date=2021-12-21|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

* ''My God, I'm Queer!'' (2020) – Directed by Matt Mahmood-Ogston<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-27|title=My God, I’mI'm Queer|url=https://www.nazandmattfoundation.org/my-god-im-queer/|access-date=2021-12-21|website=Naz and Matt Foundation|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Iris Prize Best British Short films head to All 4 {{!}} Channel 4|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/iris-prize-best-british-short-films-head-all-4|access-date=2021-12-22|website=www.channel4.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Stars get glammed up for Asian Media Awards in glittering ceremony in Trafford|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/golf/stars-get-glammed-up-for-asian-media-awards-in-glittering-ceremony-in-trafford/ss-AAQbPH8?parent-title=vote-for-womens-sports-team-of-the-year&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=AAQgJPn&fullscreen=true|access-date=2021-12-22|website=www.msn.com}}</ref>