15 things I learnt about Islam and British values being a gay boy living opposite a mosque
15 things I learnt about Islam and British values being a gay boy living opposite a mosque
The media stories about islam meant that I was genuinely a little nervous about moving in across the road to a mosque. What I have learnt in the four years since I moved is that the ridiculousness of British culture is universal. We all love tea, are really polite and tut rather than saying something, no matter our religion. –
- No mosque has enough parking and muslim men love to complain about it. I don’t care how young or trendy they are, within seconds they will be pointing at bits of pavement muttering about the number of cars you could fit in there — like my Granddad from Manchester does at Sainsbury’s.
- You can do that look British people do to each other, when someone nearby is making a scene, in a full face veil.
- Muslims pray a lot.
- You will be happy they pray a lot when you get stabbed on your doorstep and are too scared to go outside. So you time your trips to the shops to coincide with these prays as the streets are full of friendly people.
- Muslims, like all British people have that one problematic uncle that kinda ruins family occasions.
- When confronted with something out of their comfort zone, like me and my boyfriend in full drag dancing down the road, muslims like all British people get flustered and over compensate with being overly polite — a bit like Hugh Grant.
- When finding out you have been dating your boyfriend for 5 years your muslim neighbours will be disgusted that you haven’t proposed. You hear “get a civil partnership — for your mothers sake” a lot.
- Apparently there is usually half a cup of tea next to the pray matt when praying at home — especially for morning prayers.
- Like in the rest of Britain all muslim fathers think their daughter is smarter than everyone, even though she is only 6 years old…
- …and that their son is a heartbreaker even though its clear to everyone else that he spends all his time on his Xbox.
- Young muslim women are really, really, really ambitious.
- British people’s dry sarcasm works really well when confronting the times the more traditional parts of islam come face to face with modern gay culture. For example when I donated 3 sequined crop tops to the islamic relief Syria clothing drive, one of the older guys there smirked, shaking my hand and saying “our brothers and sisters in Syria thank you for the evening wear.”
- There is always an Aunt who gets too involved in the wedding planning and annoys the bride.
- During ramadan and eid there will be so many people on the streets going to mosque that the drugs dealers will have to move to other places — making your area really safe for a while.
- Mothers will say anything to stop their kids nagging them. I once saw a Muslim mother tell her kid that wanted some fried chicken, after Friday night prayers, that the shop wasn’t halal even though there was a 5ft sq neon halal sign in the window. Reminds me of when my mum told me that the chip shop was closed for a private event as she wanted some peace.
#7 is *adorable*.
Snowboarding on the streets of Manhattan
Just as he did a couple of years ago, Casey Neistat busted out his board yesterday and went snowboarding behind a 4WD Jeep in the blizzard covered streets of Manhattan. (thx, david)
So there’s this guy on one of the craft groups I follow…
somegirlshaveglitterintheirveins:
His name is Sam. And he knits jumpers
And then takes photos
Of himself in front of the things that inspired them
And he just makes me so happy
Because he has such great talent
And he is everything I want to be in life
You go, Sam. You live your dreams
thank u
A+ quality blog content.
A perfect human.
TWO shark sweaters
I’m seriously impressed by these skills.
I want that alpaca one! Also the short sleeved shark one is ADORABLE.
I am actually crying there are tears coming out of my eyes bc this man is so cute and I want to be his friend like tears are streaming down my face as I write this
I WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND THIS MAN DON’T TEST ME I WILL FIGHT YOU.
Let me talk about Clark Gregg for a second.
So. Based on his FB and twitter and interviews, you would think he is the kind of guy who is super nice and sweet and fantastic.
AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT.
(This is a rambling story, because I’m really really really tired. Also, terrible phone pictures.)
So I went through his line today at ECCC. Picked out my picture to get signed. Chatted for a second with his agent dude, (who was also SUPER NICE and remembered me from Chloe Bennett’s line the day before.) He immediately teased me about not having my baby yet. I scooted over to Clark, and told him how much I’m loving SHIELD. He was very grateful and appreciative, and shook my hand after signing my picture.
Then asked how I was feeling, indicating the baby bump. I told him how tired and excited I as, and mentioned how the day before, Chloe practically knocked her table over in her excitement to rub my belly. Then he asked when I was due. When I told him Wednesday, his mouth fell open. He immediately told me I looked great, and asked if I knew what I was having, and if we had a name. I told him a girl, and her name is going to be Annika. He grinned, told me that he has a daughter, and that she is the greatest thing ever. Then he looked at his agent, nodded, GRABBED ANOTHER PHOTO, and did this:
He handed it over with a smile, and I did the only thing I could think of, which was work really hard to to cry. He leaned over the table, rubbed my belly, and wished me good luck.
Then,to top it off, as I exited the line, I was handed a small bundle. Inside was a t-shirt.
I just can’t with this man.