Amit is a singer songwriter and performer from south London. Through his songs, he shares his journey of self-discovery and identity as a queer, British Indian and tells stories of love, loss and hope.

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I’m queer and I’m a Muslim. I’ve struggled a lot with identity. For a very long time, I believed that I could only be either a Muslim or a queer person and I thought I had to choose just one. Queer communities and religious communities have hated each other for so long that I didn’t think there was a place in this world for somebody like me and trying to make that choice broke me in a lot of ways. I spent years pushing religion out of my life and it took me a long time to realise that Islam is an integral part of my identity and that I can reconcile both my queerness and my religion. I believe that faith is subjective and accepting that part of my identity lead me on a journey of discovery. I learnt a lot about Sufism (Islamic Mysticism) and I discovered a religion that was so very different to what I was taught as a child, one that is full of love and light and beauty. I started to recognise those qualities within myself and my queerness, and I’m very happy to say that I’m now on a path of healing. For the first time in my life, I’m proud of being queer and I’m proud of being a Muslim. I am a queer Muslim. That is my identity and nobody can ever take that from me. 

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Unapologetically Queer.  

Finding my identity was a journey fraught with challenges. Growing up in Nigeria, I never realised I needed to carve out my own identity. I was content being whatever my parents wanted me to be, believing that was enough. My perspective began to shift when I moved to India to pursue a nursing degree. It was there that I first felt the need to understand and embrace my true self, a realisation that did not come easily. I was ashamed of my desires, labelling them as sins. How could I ever accept this part of myself? The real transformation began when I moved to the UK. The years of mental health struggles and self-doubt pushed me to confront my inner demons. I fought against the shame and cultural taboos surrounding my queer identity. I decided to abandon the expectations placed upon me and the future my family envisioned, choosing instead to embrace my true self. Today, I stand unapologetically Queer AF. My identity often clashes with traditional views, with some dismissing it as a Western influence. But if my existence is considered a sin, I love this sin. If it’s seen as a curse, then I welcome this curse with open arms. This so-called curse has become my source of strength and happiness, especially when I am with my beautiful girlfriend. This identity is my sanctuary, and I choose to embrace it forever. I founded a community to support people like me and to create visibility and awareness around being African and Queer, I also work with an organisation supporting LGBTQI+ in cancer care and I’m a photographer and through my art, I express this journey of self-discovery and acceptance, celebrating the power and beauty of living authentically.

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