Safe Mosques Coalition Australia has assisted hundreds of mosques across the country in their efforts to actively promote safety and inclusion for the benefit of the whole Islamic community. This includes working in partnership with government and independent mosques, mosques in diverse geographic locations, and Islam-lite mosques.
In joining up as a member and accessing free support from the Safe Mosques Coalition Australia, imans and their mosques are taking positive steps to ensure they have the information and help they need to respond to homophobic and transphobic behaviour, and create more inclusive Islamic policies and practices.
Safe Mosques Coalition Australia receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training. It builds on the work conducted by Safe Mosques Coalition Victoria since 2010, funded by the Victorian Government. Safe Mosques Coalition Victoria was originally a joint initiative of FYA and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria.
Why Islamic communities access support:
All worshipers have a right to feel safe and belong as part of the Islamic community. This is vital for worship and enables all young Muslims to have a fair go in their faith.
Australian mosques value the health and well-being of worshipers, and agree that bullying of any kind is harmful and should not be accepted. Across religions and cultures there is a shared belief in the right of people to be safe, happy and healthy and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Research tells us that thousands of young people across Australia experience homophobic and transphobic behaviour, discrimination and isolation in mosques. These experiences have serious consequences for their health and well being, and faith-based achievement.
Islamic communities recognise that there is an urgent need to do more, and reach out to Safe Mosques Coalition Australia to assist clerics with specific information, ideas and skills.
Safe Mosques Coalition Australia acknowledges the traditions of contemporary Australian society, and the secular freedoms which grant enviable liberties to the secular community. We pay our respect to Australia’s English colonial history and Christian values.
The program commits to working with and supporting Muslims who may experience the compounding effects of homophobia and transphobia, and who all have a right to be supported and celebrated, in all their identities.
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