Be the Man was shortlisted for the “Best Original Track of 2017” at the BBC Folk Awards. The the album it the song is featured on, “Strangers”, won Best Folk…
The day I stopped saying gand*
The following story was submitted to Matt by a relative of young gay Muslim male. Trigger warning: you may find some of the language and subject matter triggering.
#BanConversionTherapy Campaign Launches
Conversion Therapy is still legal in the UK and we have an opportunity to change this. Mental health practitioners, LGBT+ and faith communities are united in calling for the Government…
Foundation receives award #OutAndProudParentsDay
We are absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award from the London Faith & Belief Community Awards, hosted by the Faith & Belief Forum with the support of the Lord-Lieutenant…
Foundation’s new film to be screened on Film4
Our new film – My God, I’m Queer – is is to be screened on Channel4’s iconic Film4 TV channel
My God, I’m Queer
Can you be Muslim and gay? A bereaved fiancé goes on a deeply personal journey to try and prevent a future tragedy. Directed by Matt Mahmood-Ogston. Produced by Meera Mistry.
Philis
This documentary is dedicated to the memory of our friend Philis King
New Report: The Impact Of Coming Out To Religious Parents
A new report from Naz and Matt Foundation uncovers the trauma LGBTQ+ individuals experience when coming out to their religious parents.
Thank You – #OutAndProudParentsDay 2020 Was HUGE
We are absolutely delighted and over the moon with how many proud, accepting parents took part in #OutAndProudParentsDay 2020. We would love to say a HUGE FABULOUS THANK YOU to…
Survey: Coming out to Religious Parents
A survey of UK LGBTQ+ individuals born into religious or culturally conservative families lists anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts as direct consequences that affected respondents who came out and faced…
Out And Proud Parents Day 2020 Launches
Every year on the 30th July we celebrate out and proud parents of LGBTQI+ individuals. It’s a day when we encourage proud parents to ‘come out’, on social media, to…
The Urgent Need to Ban Conversion Therapy: An Open Letter to Government
Naz and Matt Foundation, House of Rainbow, Jeremy Marks from Post Courage, along with Ozanne Foundation signed a joint open letter to Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, Minister for Women…
Foundation Proudly Sponsors Nazir Afzal Essay Competition 2020
Calling individuals who have a passion for writing and a story to share! £500 prize available. Are you an activist, survivor, student, academic, health and social worker, member of the…
ITV News – Homophobia Within Religious and Cultural Communities
In this episode of ITV’s From The North, myself, the incredible Lucky Roy Singh and presenter Sarah Rogers discuss the challenges of homophobia faced by many LGBT+ individuals from South…
Interview: I’m Coming Out
At the end of 2019 I met up with Jonny from the “I’m Coming Out” podcast. He’d invited me to give an in-depth interview to talk about my own coming…
Love Is Too Beautiful To Be Hidden In The Closet
“Growing up in Bangladesh, I was told that homosexuals would go to hell. And I believed it. I knew I was gay, but all the time I was told that it was dirty and sinful.” Nadim share’s his deeply personal journey to find acceptance, and love.
Our patron Bhavna Limbachia takes on Celebrity Catchphrase
What an amazing performance! It gives us great pleasure to announce that our fabulous patron Bhavna Limbachia supported Naz and Matt Foundation on yesterday’s Celebrity Catchphrase (Saturday 11th Jan). She battled…
Interview: Husbands Amir and Aamir
The “You Don’t Love Me Podcast” is life from the perspective of a gay South Asian couple – husband and husband team Amir and Aamir. I first met them both…
Foundation Takes Part in LGBT+ Drop In
We were delighted to be invited to take part in a monthly LGBT+ drop by our friends at Forum+. The drop ins are a great opportunity for local groups, organisations…
Interview: The real cost of Homophobia
On a calm, peaceful April afternoon in 2018, Clare Freeman from the deeply emotive F**k It Moments Podcast sat down with me and switched on her voice recorder. We started…
Imaan Announces Muslim Pride Festival – Sunday Morning Live
Asifa Lahore, Britain’s first out Muslim Drag Queen, and myself Matt, appear on Sunday Morning Live to talk about the importance of queer Muslim visibility and the fabulous new announcement…
BBC Radio London: Sunny and Shay Talk Religion and LGBT Homelessness
Sunny and Shay Interviews BBC Radio London’s Sunny and Shay invited Matt, Leigh Fontaine from Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) and Faye to talk about ‘coming out’, #OutAndProudParentsDay and a new…
Proud Muslim Father Accepts his Gay Son
Sameer came out to his Muslim family four years ago. They fully accept him and the fact that he is gay. They understand and accept that he was born that…
BBC World News: Naz Remembered 5 Years On
On 30th July 2019, five years since Naz passed away, BBC World Service broadcast globally a short film about our journey and how religious homophobia played a part in losing…
LGBT+ People are ‘being made homeless due to religion’
New research has found that nearly half of young LGBT+ people who are left homeless after coming out are from religious backgrounds.
ITV News – LGBT Schools Row – The Human Impact
ITV’s Balvinder Sidhu interviews Matt about what tragically happened to Naz five years ago. And now, years later, the same homophobic attitudes that Naz experienced have spilled out on to…
Foundation delivers monologue at major West Midlands Police Conference
In front of a crowded auditorium in Birmingham, beneath a huge 70ft photo of Naz and Matt, I walked slowly up the staircase on to the stage. As my heart…
Coming out for Pride [video]
We interviewed Majid during Croydon Pride 2018 about the importance of LGBTQI+ Pride and why everyone should come out to fight for the freedoms of others. Pride is first and…
Khakan Qureshi – Gay Muslim Activist [video]
Khakan Qureshi is Founder of Finding A Voice (a social group for LGBTQI+ South Asians), a public speaker and LGBTQI+ Conference Organiser. We caught up with Khakan and spoke to…
Birmingham Pride March 2019 – Education, Education, Education
The official Birmingham Pride theme for 2019 is “LOVE OUT LOUD”. So this year, let’s be out, proud, and loud! If you’ve been affected by the escalating homophobic protests outside…
Thank you Bhavna Limbachia
On behalf of Naz and Matt Foundation I’d like to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to the multi-award nominated actress Bhavna Limbachia for everything she has done for our…