30th July 2015 marked the anniversary of Naz joining the angels, the day that Naz sadly passed away. The day is going to be very hard for me to get through,…
Matt accepts Attitude Pride Award on behalf of Naz and our Foundation
Back in May 2015 I was contacted by the UK’s leading publication for the gay community – Attitude Magazine – about their inaugural Attitude Pride Awards launching for the first…
That’s Solent TV Interview: Portsmouth Pride 2015 [video]
During the weekend of Portsmouth Pride, 20-21st June 2015, That’s Solent TV (the local TV station for Portsmouth), invited me in to their studio to talk live on air about…
Journey To Find Acceptance covered by London Live
Vanessa from London Live interviewed Matt at the start of the Journey To Find Acceptance in Hampstead Cemetery. Saturday April 18th 2015 http://www.londonlive.co.uk/embed/news/2015-05-25/journey-to-find-acceptance-sponsored-walk
Thank you – Our Journey To Find Acceptance Raises £12,000 to stop homophobia triggered by religion
Thank you so, so much to everyone who supported and participated in what was an incredible 150 miles walked from London to Birmingham. I was planning to walk 130 miles, but…
BBC Radio West Midlands Interview – 30th April 2015 [radio]
Matt was interviewed by BBC’s Radio WM (West Midlands) several times over the course of the Journey To Find Acceptance. This was longest of the interviews recorded by Radio WM…
The Association of British Muslims Announce Their Support For Naz and Matt Foundation
Shortly after the start of our ‘Journey to Find Acceptance‘ on 17th April 2015, The Association of British Muslims published an official statement announcing their support for Naz and Matt Foundation’s work…
BBC Radio Ulster – 27th April 2015
After the Northern Ireland Health Minister Jim Wells resigned, following a canvassing incident in Rathfriland where he told a lesbian couple he believed their relationship was wrong, the BBC interviewed…
The Journey To Find Acceptance – ITV News Interview [video]
ITV News have been incredibly supportive and covered our 150 mile journey from London to Birmingham. The ITV team invited me in to their studio to meet with presenter Bob Warman, who…
Fiancé tells how he nearly killed himself to join ‘soulmate’
“The fiancé of Harley Street doctor Nazim Mahmood from Birmingham – who killed himself after his mother told him to find a ‘cure’ for being gay – has said he…
The Journey To Find Acceptance [event]
8 days, 130 150 miles to find acceptance in our communities On 30th July, 2014, my fiancé and eternal soulmate Naz (Dr Nazim Mahmood) sadly passed away, two days after…
Naz and Matt Interview – Gaydio Radio [radio]
Matt is interviewed by Gaydio’s Emma and Chris on Wednesday 15th April 2015 about his fiancé Naz, and the charity (Naz and Matt Foundation) setup in memory of Naz to…
Walk of ‘acceptance’ to remember troubled Muslim doctor who killed himself
London Evening Standard’s Rachel Blundy reports “The fiancé of a troubled Muslim doctor who killed himself after his mother asked him to “cure” his homosexuality is embarking on a seven…
Canadian Breakfast Television Interview: The struggle with homophobia [video]
Breakfast Television in Edmonton, Canada, host a video segment called DiverseCity during their morning show, which explores the lives and challenges of real people around the world. The story of…
Election hustings: Politicians are asked “What can each of you do more to stop homophobia within religious communities?”
On Tuesday evening I attended the election hustings at St James’ Church, organised by West Hampstead Life. With the help of Louise, a close friend of Naz and mine, the…
Homophobia and Suicide
Our friend Vanessa-Jane Chapman writes about losing her friend Naz, and supporting our Foundation. “On 30 July 2014, my (real life) friend Matt lost his partner of 13 years, Naz, to suicide….
Guardian Interview: My fiancé killed himself because his family couldn’t accept that he was gay
Sarfraz Manzoor, a writer for the Guardian contacted Matt to see if he would be willing to be interviewed in-depth about what happened to Naz and the events and circumstances…
Can you be gay and Muslim? Live TV debate [video]
Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood….
A journey to become a Muslim drag queen [video]
Meet Ali, a gay Pakistani asylum-seeker preparing for his first performance as a drag queen. Ali fled Pakistan, where he was persecuted for being gay, but now faces abuse from…
BBC Interview: Naz’s Legacy – New Foundation Launches
The BBC contacted me (Matt) and asked me to talk to them about my beautiful Naz, and some of the emotional challenges that he faced with his family when they…
BBC Asian Network: Gay support group in memory of suicide doctor
A support group has been set up in memory of an Asian doctor who took his own life, days after telling his family he was gay. Dr Naz Mahmood fell…
Fiancé pays tribute to gay doctor who killed himself after mother told him to seek ‘cure’
The partner of a man who took his own life this year after coming out to his mother has set up a foundation in his honour. Last week, an inquest heard…
West Hampstead vicar: ‘Religious leaders legitimise gay hate’
At the inquest into the death of Dr Nazim Mahmood (Naz) who died in July, the coroner said: “It seems desperately sad that in 2014 a person should feel that…
Sky News interview: Matt Ogston’s Partner Took His Own Life After Coming Out As Gay
Immediately following the public inquest about what happened to Naz, Sky News went live with a day long news feature that investigated the the challenges experienced by gay asians within…