Shoeb Ahmad has made some bold changes in the past year – somehow transforming the trauma of experiencing a burglary at an interstate hotel (whilst secretly presenting as femme) into a courageous coming out.
This recent interview with Jack Shit is startlingly frank, revealing an extraordinarily brave human being – a gifted musician of the Muslim faith, born brown via Bangladeshi parents, then raised in Parramatta – transcending multiple levels of discrimination with creativity and grace.
Naturally (given the circumstances) the current attempted sabotage of popular hopes for marriage equality, via the Coalition’s cynical and unrepresentative postal plebiscite, was discussed. Neither Shoeb nor Jack were backwards in coming forwards about where responsibility for the harm unleashed by this regressive process will lie. In the days ahead determination of the type displayed by Shoeb will be more vital than ever.
Be organised and ensure that you are correctly enrolled to vote by the cut-off date this Thursday in order to have your say.
We’re going to need all the care and kindness our community can muster to endure the hate-speech of reactionary elements who object to the long-overdue extension of equal rights to all loving partners.
If you are looking for a little inspiration right now listen here to Shoeb‘s story – and marvel at the two stunningly sincere and plaintive songs (written during all of this upheaval) – performed on either side of it’s telling.