‘I remember people being publicly lashed’ – Life as an LGBTQ person in Qatar

I knew I was different at 11 but was raised Muslim in very rural Qatar — a village of 5,000 with no internet access and absolutely no LGBTQ visibility. I couldn’t even imagine dating or having sex. I heard awful stories about persecution when you even try to do that: undercover cops setting up hook-ups to arrest people, for example. When I was very young, I remember people being publicly lashed.

My life changed when I was selected to attend a high school for gifted students. I learned to speak English and got into an American medical school. I came to the main campus in the US periodically and learned a lot about myself.

Back in Qatar, I’d sometimes meet people you kind of knew were LGBTQ, but you just couldn’t talk about it. There were moments I almost got caught out. Any self-expression that isn’t mainstream or heteronormative — any accessorising! — invited questions. Then pressure to get married started. I initially used academia as an excuse, but knew it wasn’t sustainable. I had to leave.

At 24, I moved to the state of Connecticut in the United States after medical school to complete my training. I was granted political asylum because I’m gay in 2017.

I’m now 35 and work as a doctor offering HIV treatment and prevention services in San Francisco. I identify as LGBTQ. I date men, I’m non-binary and use he/him pronouns. I’ve experienced racism and homophobia here — it’s everywhere, even in a liberal oasis like San Francisco — but I’m happy and really fit in.

I was already out to people in my life here but came out publicly on BBC News this year. I’m now the world’s only publicly LGBTQ Qatari. Investigative journalists have confirmed it. I’m now connected with LGBTQ Qataris who aren’t publicly out, and I continue to hear awful stories of persecution.

I had to come out — this month, Qatar is hosting the World Cup. Having a very wealthy, authoritarian government like Qatar’s summon the world and tell it to go back in the closet should be protested [against]. They use religion and culture as an excuse to justify homophobia. They claim they don’t have LGBTQs — ridiculous! It’s one of many issues in Qatar, but I’m holding the LGBTQ front. They shouldn’t have the ability to take away LGBTQ rights. People love to travel with their spouses, families and feel safe. The idea that my country can control and influence everyone else is super triggering to me.

I’ll never go back to Qatar. I’m certain I’d lose my life. I’ve already received death threats — although the public response to my coming out has been mostly positive — and an abusive letter in the mail. I was disowned by my family years ago and, to be honest, it’s the ones I’m closest to I’m afraid of the most. When you do something that dishonours your family publicly, in a conservative, tribal community, trying to ‘regain your honour’ is a measure people sometimes take.

Real change requires internal and external pressure. No country will boycott Qatar: Russia is sanctioned right now, so Qatar is the source of oil. They have billions invested in other countries. It’s not a realistic expectation, but at the very least, we can protest. Every country that has a team it’s sending to Qatar needs to petition its government to petition FIFA. I’ve partnered with All Out to start an international petition, calling on FIFA to demand decriminalisation of LGBTQ laws for visitors and also for those in Qatar. I hope David Beckham, who last year signed a $10m deal to become the face of Qatar, will sign it, too.

Sign Nas’s petition at /https://action.allout.org/en/m/b050d85/