Religious Correctness or Homophobia: Cross-Examining the Identity of Gay Muslims in Germany

Abstract

This article offers new ways of identifying and perceiving gay Muslims in Germany through discursive practices, such as the acceptance of queer Muslims in Islam, alongside cultural hegemony of religious gatekeepers. The article specifically explores the utilisation of Norman Fairclough’s (2010) critical discourse analysis to comprehend the identity of gay Muslims in Germany and to advance the current understanding of gay Muslims and their relations within the socio-religious space. The nature of this relationship is demonstrated through discursive choices (the identity of gay Muslims within a religious context and in society); the use of dominant and restrictive subjective narratives and language between group gatekeepers (religious leaders: Imam and Islamic devouts); and the isolated members of Islam (gay Muslims). This enquiry will be illuminated by qualitative critical discourse analysis interviews on YouTube in which specific actors related to the study were interviewed on themes such as identity, acceptance of gay Muslims and relations with them in a religious community or a social space.