Indonesian Queer Muslims: Book Launch of 'Gender, Sexuality and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia'

Join us for the launch of Diego Garcia Rodriguez’s book, 'Gender, Sexuality and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: Queer Muslims and their Allies'.

This groundbreaking research delves into the lived experiences of queer Muslims in Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population and is the fourth most populous nation. A first of its kind, the book also gives voice to the allies of queer Muslims and explores the evolving landscapes of Indonesian progressive Islam. 

Based on ethnographic research, semi-structured interviews and media analysis, this pioneering study examines how queer Indonesian Muslims navigate the complex interplay of gender, sexuality, and religious beliefs in their daily lives. The book also introduces the concept of 'queer religious geographies', highlighted through the unique case of an annual camp that sparks alternative discussions impacting the formation of subjectivities.

This is a must-attend event for academics, researchers, and anyone interested in gender and sexuality studies, Islamic studies, and the Indonesian context. Gain unparalleled insights into how Islam serves as a source of emotional strength, guidance, and emancipation for gender and sexual minorities in contemporary Indonesia. Diego will be in discussion with Soe Tjen Marching and Ben Murtagh.

About the speaker

Diego Garcia Rodriguez is a Leverhulme-funded Early Career Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. He is currently exploring the experiences of LGBTIQ+ religious refugees and asylum seekers in the UK while examining the support provided by their allies through a 3-year project (2023-2026). Prior to this, Diego completed a PhD at UCL on the everyday religion of Indonesian LGBTIQ+ Muslims to interrogate the role of faith and spirituality as sources of agentic power.

Based on his PhD research, his book “Gender, Sexuality and Islam in Contemporary Indonesia: Queer Muslims and their Allies” was published in August 2023. Diego holds a PhD in Gender and Sexuality Studies (University College London), a MSc in Asian Studies (Lund University/ National University of Singapore), and a BA in Journalism (University Complutense of Madrid, University of Tampere and Korea University).

Registration

This event is free and open to the public. 

• Organiser: SOAS Centre of South East Asian Studies
• Contact email: centres@soas.ac.uk