‘American Muslim community and Democrats fall apart on LGBTQ Issue’

Researcher says while Islamophobia remains a problem, Islamic principles face unprecedented challenges from democratic progressivism

WASHINGTON – Elad Ben David, a doctorate and an expert on Islam, has noted that there is increasing conflict between Democrats and Muslims in the U.S.

After the September 11, 2001, attacks, he said, American Muslims found comfort in the Democratic Party’s support against Islamophobia.

“This was a watershed moment for Islam in America. Many Muslims joined the Democratic Party, which expressed tolerance and empathy and joined them in their battle against Islamophobia,” he said. 

But over the years, differences have arisen as Democrats have increasingly embraced the LGBTQ issue and ideologies that are often at odds with Islamic values.

In an insight paper published by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Israel’s Bar Ilan University, David said the rise of Islamophobia after 9/11 led many Muslims to join the Democratic Party.

That alliance is now being challenged by the Democrats’ growing support for LGBTQ rights.

“It appears that the rise of LGBTQ’s influence on politics in the last decade, especially in recent years, has caused fissures in the alliance between the Democratic Party and the American Muslim community,” David wrote in the paper. 

The paper highlights the potential for interfaith cooperation between Muslims and Orthodox Jews who share conservative and religious values.

While some moderate Muslim voices managed to coexist within the party with the LGBTQ community, more conservative Islamic figures vehemently opposed cooperation with a group whose actions they considered morally unacceptable.

David’s study highlights the perspectives of key Muslim clerics such as Imam Zaid Shakir, Omar Suleiman, and Sheikh Dr. Yasir Qadhi, who have expressed concern about the impact of the LGBTQ agenda on Islamic values.

They argue that this alliance threatens the future of Islam in America and accuse Democrats of hypocrisy for not respecting conservative religious values.

In addition, David said many other incidents, such as a teacher’s scolding of a Muslim student who refused to participate in Pride Month activities, have also caused fractures.

David quotes Sheikh Dr. Yasir Qadhi in his study, clarifying that Democrats are tolerant until Muslims align themselves with their so-called progressive values, which exposes their alleged insincerity.

The study underscores the concerted efforts within the American Muslim community to oppose LGBTQ-related teachings in schools.

Various Muslim clerics have endorsed a joint statement reaffirming Islamic positions on sexuality and gender ethics, despite theological differences.

It concludes that while Islamophobia remains a problem, Islamic principles face unprecedented challenges from democratic progressivism.

“But while American Muslims still care about Islamophobia, Islam’s basic principles are now facing an unprecedented challenge in Democratic progressivism,” the researcher said.

He said that many in the Muslim community will have to recalculate their strategic social-political moves to carve out a path that will allow them to live safely as a minority while preserving Islamic values in America for future generations.