Islam, Pluralism, & Homophobia

Description

Islam, Pluralism, and Homophobia Thursday, October 6th Bangs Community Center 70 Boltwood Walk Amherst, MA 01002 7-9PM The massacre perpetrated by Omar Mateen at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida led many to question Islam’s approach to homosexuality. To explore historical and contemporary theological discourses surrounding homosexuality in the Muslim world, Professor Mehammed Mack of Smith College (who recently penned the piece, ‘What does the Koran Say About Being Gay’ ) will share his insights on October 6th, at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst, MA. Speaker: Professor Mehammed Mack Smith College Speaker Bio: Professor Mehammed Amadeus Mack earned his Ph.D. in French and comparative literature from Columbia University, where he completed a dissertation titled "Immigration and Sexual Citizenship: Gender, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Contemporary France." His first book Sexagon: Muslims, France, and the Sexualization of National Culture will be released in January 2017 from Fordham University Press. His research focuses on contemporary immigration to France, gender and sexuality, diversity in the banlieues, and the relation between culture and politics. His larger teaching and research interests include Franco-Arab cultures, travel literature, the development of Islam in France and media studies. He has published articles in the Journal of Arabic Literature, Comparative Literature Studies, Hétérographes, Jadaliyya, SITES, Al Jazeera English and Newsweek. Mack worked as a journalist at the LA Weekly prior to entering academia. He loves tennis, gardening, electronic music and snow sports. Pizza and drinks will be provided. This program is free and open to the public and is made possible by Mass Humanities, whose grants inspire considered thought, conversation and action. To rsvp for the events above, please contact Su'di Abdirahman at sudimabdirahman@gmail.com Please stay tuned for other upcoming events in the area in October and November.