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| LGBT people are 'being made homeless due to religion' | LGBT people are 'being made homeless due to religion' |
| (30 days later) | |
| Nearly half of young LGBT people who are left homeless after coming out are from religious backgrounds. | Nearly half of young LGBT people who are left homeless after coming out are from religious backgrounds. |
| That's according to research by the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), which supports young people who are at risk of homelessness. | That's according to research by the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), which supports young people who are at risk of homelessness. |
| Service Manager Leigh Fontaine explains that one in four young homeless people identify as LGBT: "Our research suggests that 77% of those cite familial rejection or abuse as the main cause, and 45% of those identify with a faith background". | |
| The Trust says the majority are from Muslim and Christian families. | The Trust says the majority are from Muslim and Christian families. |
| For Dr Nazim Mahmood, the pain of not being accepted by his parents ended in the most devastating way. | For Dr Nazim Mahmood, the pain of not being accepted by his parents ended in the most devastating way. |
| Five years ago he took his own life when his family told him to "seek a cure" after coming out as gay, because they considered homosexuality a disease. | Five years ago he took his own life when his family told him to "seek a cure" after coming out as gay, because they considered homosexuality a disease. |
| In reality, so-called "gay-cure" therapies have no scientific evidence to back them up. | In reality, so-called "gay-cure" therapies have no scientific evidence to back them up. |
| In 2018, the government promised to take steps to get rid of the practice in the UK, as evidence shows it is harmful and ineffective. | In 2018, the government promised to take steps to get rid of the practice in the UK, as evidence shows it is harmful and ineffective. |
| Strict interpretations of religious texts, from the Bible to the Koran, have been used to argue that being LGBT is a sin. | Strict interpretations of religious texts, from the Bible to the Koran, have been used to argue that being LGBT is a sin. |
| "He said if his family ever found out that we're together, they'd be praying on the doorstep until we break apart," says his fiance Matt Mahmood-Ogston, who's still dealing with the pain of Naz's death. | "He said if his family ever found out that we're together, they'd be praying on the doorstep until we break apart," says his fiance Matt Mahmood-Ogston, who's still dealing with the pain of Naz's death. |
| 'I'm Muslim, is that OK?' | 'I'm Muslim, is that OK?' |
| "His smile was incredible, his big brown eyes were so beautiful and the way he spoke. In that moment, my life changed forever." | "His smile was incredible, his big brown eyes were so beautiful and the way he spoke. In that moment, my life changed forever." |
| Love was "instant" when Nazim and Matt met in Birmingham in their early 20s but they soon learned that being in love meant going underground. | Love was "instant" when Nazim and Matt met in Birmingham in their early 20s but they soon learned that being in love meant going underground. |
| One of the first questions Naz asked Matt was: "I'm Muslim, is that OK?" | One of the first questions Naz asked Matt was: "I'm Muslim, is that OK?" |
| For Matt it was never a problem but Naz's faith would go on to play a big part in their lives. | For Matt it was never a problem but Naz's faith would go on to play a big part in their lives. |
| To get the freedom and life they wanted, they moved to London and kept their relationship secret for 13 years. | To get the freedom and life they wanted, they moved to London and kept their relationship secret for 13 years. |
| Naz would face constant pressures from his family to get married, and when he revealed the truth during a confrontation at home, he was told to get therapy. | Naz would face constant pressures from his family to get married, and when he revealed the truth during a confrontation at home, he was told to get therapy. |
| "They were basically saying the thing that he cherished the most - his identity, the most truthful thing about him - had to be got rid of for him to be accepted," Matt says. | "They were basically saying the thing that he cherished the most - his identity, the most truthful thing about him - had to be got rid of for him to be accepted," Matt says. |
| Days later Naz took his own life at the age of 34. | Days later Naz took his own life at the age of 34. |
| If there is any anger or bitterness, Matt doesn't show it. | If there is any anger or bitterness, Matt doesn't show it. |
| Through his work - The Naz and Matt Foundation - he wants to help others in a similar position change their family's minds. | Through his work - The Naz and Matt Foundation - he wants to help others in a similar position change their family's minds. |
| Last month one of the UK's most high-profile parents moved the conversation forward. | Last month one of the UK's most high-profile parents moved the conversation forward. |
| Visiting the AKT in London, the Duke of Cambridge said he would "fully support" his children if they were gay. | Visiting the AKT in London, the Duke of Cambridge said he would "fully support" his children if they were gay. |
| "Anyone that may have been on the fence or indifferent, to see the future king say that, would change a lot of minds," says Leigh Fontaine. | |
| AKT, which published a report into LGBT homelessness, works to support anyone who needs help with housing and services. | |
| "People come to us either because they've chosen to leave home due to hostility - from name calling to the extremes of forced conversion, exorcism - or because they've been kicked out." | "People come to us either because they've chosen to leave home due to hostility - from name calling to the extremes of forced conversion, exorcism - or because they've been kicked out." |
| Do parents ever end up accepting their children? | Do parents ever end up accepting their children? |
| "Sometimes. The family sees their child grow in independence and confidence once out of the house and their views start to shift and change." | "Sometimes. The family sees their child grow in independence and confidence once out of the house and their views start to shift and change." |
| 'Dad, I'm gay' | 'Dad, I'm gay' |
| The idea of telling his family about his sexuality frightened 24-year-old Sameer Poselay. | The idea of telling his family about his sexuality frightened 24-year-old Sameer Poselay. |
| "I genuinely thought I was going to take the secret to the grave." | "I genuinely thought I was going to take the secret to the grave." |
| He knew he was gay at age eight but with parents of Indian, Sunni Muslim heritage, he says there was a level of expectation: "My parents were really looking forward to having daughters-in-law one day. | He knew he was gay at age eight but with parents of Indian, Sunni Muslim heritage, he says there was a level of expectation: "My parents were really looking forward to having daughters-in-law one day. |
| "I thought maybe I'd enter a fake marriage as I didn't want to ruin that whole perfect nuclear family. I felt the burden of ruining it." | "I thought maybe I'd enter a fake marriage as I didn't want to ruin that whole perfect nuclear family. I felt the burden of ruining it." |
| School - where Sameer says gay people were regularly mocked - didn't help either. | School - where Sameer says gay people were regularly mocked - didn't help either. |
| But one night, aged 20, he decided to tell his dad and relieve himself of the burden that had been depressing him for so long. | But one night, aged 20, he decided to tell his dad and relieve himself of the burden that had been depressing him for so long. |
| He'd anticipated being kicked out so had arranged to stay at a friend's. | He'd anticipated being kicked out so had arranged to stay at a friend's. |
| As his father sat in the lounge absorbed in a TV show, Sameer sat opposite him and said: "I need to talk to you." | As his father sat in the lounge absorbed in a TV show, Sameer sat opposite him and said: "I need to talk to you." |
| "Honestly, my immediate thought was 'Oh gosh, I hope you haven't got anyone pregnant'," Sameer's dad Lak Poselay says. | "Honestly, my immediate thought was 'Oh gosh, I hope you haven't got anyone pregnant'," Sameer's dad Lak Poselay says. |
| When Sameer eventually said "Dad, I'm gay", there was silence. | When Sameer eventually said "Dad, I'm gay", there was silence. |
| "I had a delayed reaction and I just said 'Go on, get on with your life' shrugged my shoulders and said, 'Yeah OK'," says Lak. | "I had a delayed reaction and I just said 'Go on, get on with your life' shrugged my shoulders and said, 'Yeah OK'," says Lak. |
| Sameer was blindsided, and soon afterwards he got all the reassurances he'd ever wanted. | Sameer was blindsided, and soon afterwards he got all the reassurances he'd ever wanted. |
| Crucially, his entire family don't just accept him - they fully accept homosexuality. | Crucially, his entire family don't just accept him - they fully accept homosexuality. |
| "I'm sure some would say I'm not a proper Muslim, but it's simple," Lak says wryly. "You're born a Muslim and you're born gay, so you are both." | "I'm sure some would say I'm not a proper Muslim, but it's simple," Lak says wryly. "You're born a Muslim and you're born gay, so you are both." |
| As for "What will the neighbours think?"... | As for "What will the neighbours think?"... |
| "I couldn't care less, it's their negativity. I just tell them 'Yes I'm proud my son is gay... and a doctor!'" Lak says. | "I couldn't care less, it's their negativity. I just tell them 'Yes I'm proud my son is gay... and a doctor!'" Lak says. |
| "I'm a scientist dad," Sameer interjects. | "I'm a scientist dad," Sameer interjects. |
| "I know son, but saying doctor is funny because it means more to them doesn't it?" | "I know son, but saying doctor is funny because it means more to them doesn't it?" |
| "And I'm still an Asian dad," Lak laughs. "So I'd like him to bring home an Asian Muslim man!" | "And I'm still an Asian dad," Lak laughs. "So I'd like him to bring home an Asian Muslim man!" |
| There's a serious message he is keen to emphasise. | There's a serious message he is keen to emphasise. |
| "As a parent you can literally destroy your child's life because you made something all about you and not wanting to accept it. | "As a parent you can literally destroy your child's life because you made something all about you and not wanting to accept it. |
| "We're all about saving lives - so save your child's life by saying 'OK, you're Muslim and you're gay'." | "We're all about saving lives - so save your child's life by saying 'OK, you're Muslim and you're gay'." |
| It's this full acceptance that Matt says could have meant a different life for Naz. | It's this full acceptance that Matt says could have meant a different life for Naz. |
| He places a bouquet of sunflowers on to the memorial bench to honour the man he says will forever remain his soulmate. | He places a bouquet of sunflowers on to the memorial bench to honour the man he says will forever remain his soulmate. |
| They were Naz's favourite kind. | They were Naz's favourite kind. |
| "All Naz wanted was the unconditional love and acceptance of his parents. | "All Naz wanted was the unconditional love and acceptance of his parents. |
| "Even if one parent changes their minds after hearing us, it would mean everything." | "Even if one parent changes their minds after hearing us, it would mean everything." |
| If you've been affected by any of the issues described in this article, you can find help at the BBC Advice pages. | If you've been affected by any of the issues described in this article, you can find help at the BBC Advice pages. |
| Clarification 27 August 2019: This article has been amended to include more detailed quotes about the charity's research findings. | |
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