For the third year running, Hidayah is marching at Manchester Pride! As usual, we’ll be assembling for the march and then will have lunch after. There are options for you to march with us, have lunch with us and wear a custom Hidayah t-shirt.
This year’s theme is Buzzin’ to be Queer – A Hive of Progress. The bee is symbolic of queer progress in Manchester, but it’s also a vital symbol within Hidayah, representing unity and collaboration as a true collective. Last year, Hidayah won the ‘Leading the Way’ award at Manchester Pride. Our marchers included queer Muslims (including those who are not “out”) and allies, and our lunch brought together so many in our community.
We know that every year we march, we remind LGBTQ Muslims that we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not going anywhere.
So get your busy Hidayah honeybee on, and we’ll see you there!
About Hidayah:
Hidayah’s mission is to provide support and welfare for LGBTQIA+ Muslims. We promote social justice and education about our community. In the process, we counter discrimination, prejudice and injustice. Hidayah is a secular organisation, but its projects and activities are developed specifically for the needs of LGBTQI+ Muslims. Our vision is to ensure our voices are heard and understood.
We are a mix of practising and non-practising Muslims. However, we warmly welcome friends, families and allies to our events.
We are keen to ensure our events are as inclusive as possible. So if you are an LGBTQI Muslim wanting to attend and the cost is a barrier to you, please email our Events Team at events@hidayahlgbt.co.uk and we can arrange to waive your ticket cost, bi'idhnillah.
Please note that Hidayah's first priority is always to safeguard the wellbeing of volunteers, board members and those using our services. With this in mind, Hidayah reserves the right to refuse or refund tickets at its discretion. Any decision to do so is not made lightly and will only ever be on the basis of safeguarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
The signup form asks for a membership number. Do I need to be a Hidayah member to attend the event?
Yes, our new policy asks that anyone wanting to attend a Hidayah event - in person or remotely - first signs up for membership. This is to protect safeguarding and ensure that everyone in attendance is who they say they are. The main way to do this is through an app called Yoti, and you can find all the details on how to sign up on our website. However, if you have concerns about accessibility or the use of ID for verification, please get in touch with our membership team (membership@hidayahlgbt.co.uk) and we can discuss alternatives with you, insha Allah.
Will it cost me anything to become a Hidayah member?
For the purpose of attending an event, no. You can attend an event by signing up for As-Shams, our free tier for queer Muslims, and al-Halif, our free tier for allies. You are, of course, welcome to sign up for our paid tiers, which will give you access to other membership perks. Find out more by going to https://hidayahlgbt.com/membership.
I don't want to attend the march. Can I still attend the lunch afterwards?
Absolutely! Just make sure to select the correct option when you buy your ticket.
Where is the event happening? I can't see an address.
We will send you the address a couple days before the event. The reason for this is to safeguard our service users. It is in central Manchester and you will receive the full address after you have signed up. Please do not share this to anyone not attending the event.
I have specific dietary requirements. Can you accommodate this?
For sure. The caterer can accommodate your dietary needs, just make sure you specify it when you sign up - ideally as soon as possible.
I don't want any pictures posted online of me from the event. Can I opt out?
When it comes to the march itself, we cannot control external photography, so we recommend that anyone who is marching with us and does not wish to by identified via photos to wear a mask. If you are only attending the lunch, then yes, we can provide you with a sticker to ensure you are not photographed. We are keen to ensure this is a safe space for you.
I'm not an LGBTQ Muslim but I am an ally. Can I still attend?
We warmly welcome allies to our events as we believe your support and solidarity is invaluable. However, we do ask for more in the ticket price to reflect the community we serve, which is why our tickets are tiered.
I'm not sure about my gender identity/sexuality, or I'm not a very practising Muslim. Can I attend?
We don't gatekeep when it comes to being queer or being Muslim. We know there is no one way of being either. Whatever level you practise Islam and are LGBTQ is fine with us; if you identify as such, that's enough for us.
I am a queer Muslim on benefits/unemployed/in financial difficulty. Would you be able to cover my ticket?
Yes! We know that times are tough for people and we don't want those from our community to miss out because of financial issues, so if you are in that position, please email our Events Team at events@hidayahlgbt.co.uk. Please specify: 1) Your name 2) Dietary requirements 3) If you consent to being photographed. You will also need to sign up for membership, but this is free of charge. Visit https://hidayahlgbt.com/membership to sign up.