2006 Youth Activist Scholarship -- Khalil Hassam

Khalil Hassam is a senior at University Preparatory Academy in Seattle, Washington. He is the founder of the Coalition Against Apathy, which encourages students to exercise their freedom of expression and assembly. He has used his personal experiences as an Indian Muslim to educate others about Islam and the importance of religious freedom and diversity. One of his teachers remarked “If Gandhi were reincarnated as a high school student, it would be as Khalil Hassam.”

Following is Khalil’s scholarship essay.

“It is an affliction of the mind!” Droplets of spit pirouetted from his lips, onto the table in front of him. He shrieked, “It is wrong, it is obscene and unhealthy!” I felt the goose bumps rise on my arms. How could he be saying such things? Does he not know tolerance, acceptance or peace? I hoped that it was a dream, and I would wake in my bed, mentally exhausted but relieved. But no, here was a man degrading gays, lesbians and bisexuals in a theater of three hundred highly impressionable students. I wanted to stop him, to magically mute his voice from radiating this negative message through the room. I knew that the 1st amendment protected his right to speak, no matter how intolerant or prejudiced the message, and that I could do nothing. His right as a Muslim speaker was also protected, for the Bill of Rights grants respect to religions, and “the free exercise thereof” (1st amendment.) Defeated, I thought, there’s nothing I can do to stop this.

I wasn’t just upset about the gay hate message he was promoting, it was the Muslim gay hate that upset me the most. Muhammed, and the rest of the University of Washington’s Muslim Student Union’s (MSU) representatives were the only Muslims on stage. And as the only Muslim student in the University Prep high school, I knew that people were judging my belief system on what Muhammed was saying. I felt betrayed. I was brought up in a household, a Muslim household, with values of tolerance for any idea or belief. And for this Muslim (Muhammed) to say that those that follow Islam don’t believe that gays or lesbians are sane human beings was inconceivable. He can ’t just group all Muslims together. I am a Muslim, and I believe in social and civil rights for all, no matter race, gender, sex, or sexual preference. I knew something had to be done, but I wasn’t sure where to start. No better time than the present, I thought, and confronted the MSU after the assembly.

As I gleaned from my discussions, I wasn’t the only person who didn’t agree with Muhammed. The rest of the MSU consented with me, that all Muslims don’t hate gays and lesbians; it was only Muhammed’s personal belief, based upon his sect of Islam. As I talked to Muhammed, I could tell that he wasn’t open to discussion in the matter, he was an extremist set in his ways. I felt hurt and disappointed in the human race. How can one loathe another, when we are all torn from the same strip of cloth? I quickly realized, the pain I was feeling would pale in comparison to way the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of U-Prep was feeling. I found the advisor to the local chapter of GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) and we discussed what steps I could take to repair the damage.

I joined GSA that day, and attended the debrief meeting scheduled the following day. At the meeting, I made it clear to the other members of GSA my own feelings of acceptance towards gays and lesbians, and my deep regret for the comments made during the assembly. This step wasn’t enough. I worked with H-PEC (Harassment Prevention and Education Committee) to stop the subtle harassment of gays and lesbians at our school.

It was unfortunate that I could do so, but I spotted issues throughout the community and worked with administrators to resolve the problems. I have also worked with MSA (Multicultural Student Alliance) in raising awareness of Muslim beliefs and how they correspond with gay/lesbian social and civil rights in our local and national community.

When I transition to university next year, I know I can make an even stronger impact in this issue. I won’t be the only Muslim at my school, and together, we can be true ambassadors of Islam, representing the ideals of peace and unity with which Islam was created.

For the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, the civil liberties are in place. The fourteenth amendment gives citizenship and other human rights to all born in the US. But, these rights are somehow not given to all. Society decides when to act upon the laws given by the Constitution. As of now, it seems a majority don’t believe that gays and lesbians should be protected under the rights they are given in the Constitution. The future is not bleak. Pre 1965 (Civil Rights Act) and 1954 (Brown vs. Board of Education) most minority groups were marginalized. But with the legislation passed, and with the work of activists, the groups were accepted. I am such an activist. I wish to raise awareness about the rights that gays and lesbians are given, and help society to understand that they are as deserving as any other human being.