First out LGBTQ Qatari invites David Beckham to sign petition calling for gay sex to be made legal

Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: Provided/NBC

The world’s first Qatari known to have spoken to the world’s media about being LGBTQ has invited David Beckham to sign his petition calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in his home country.

Gay sex in the Middle Eastern nation is currently punishable by death. Last year, football legend Beckham signed a $10m deal to become the face of the Middle Eastern country and host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, taking place from 21 November-18 December 2022.

Dr Nas Mohamad, who is non-binary and goes by he/him pronouns and now lives in San Francisco in the US, came out publicly in an interview with BBC News last month.

Nas has partnered with AllOut to start an international petition, calling on FIFA to demand decriminalisation of LGBTQ laws for visitors and also for those in Qatar.

“LGBTQ rights are human rights”

When asked by Attitude whether he’s open to an audience with Beckham, Nas replied: “Yes. Absolutely. He has a massive platform. He can take this petition and say: ‘I agree with it. I believe LGBT rights are human rights everywhere.’

He continued: “But I’m not going to weaponise my message, or attack any individual person, country, religion. The message is: people and love are not criminal.”

“There is an opportunity to defend human rights.”

Nas, who now lives in San Francisco in the US, added: “Every country that has a team that they’re sending to Qatar needs to petition their own government to petition FIFA.”

He continued: “FIFA is the one with the power right now to tell Qatar: decriminalise homosexuality. And that LGBTQ rights are human rights, or else – they’re the gatekeeper right now.

“There should be pressure on them to make a public statement on this issue.”

Nas is believed to be the first Qatari to speak to the world’s media about being LGBTQ.