SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Dressed in traditional Qatari bisht; Dr. Nasser Mohamed Passing a crowd of several hundred people outside the Chase Center during the England vs. Croatia match world cup The match was projected on the top of a large screen. His gold and black robe had rainbow piping on each sleeve and the words “Love” and “Freedom” written in Arabic.
“That’s why the World Cup is really powerful, because people don’t have to hear who I am. I just walk up and get noticed and that’s enough,” he said. “We don’t have to say anything.”
During the World Cup four years ago, played in his home country And although Mohammed was already living on the other side of the world in San Francisco, he came out as a Qatari in Qatar, making him an unusually openly gay man who is prohibited from having gay sex and who is unable to act like a woman.
Mohammed is once again speaking out for the voiceless. The 39-year-old now feels safe enough to walk around confidently without fear of harm, even wearing chunky-heeled boots, mascara, and two-inch dangling earrings. Although he still regularly receives backlash and hatred, he has also found support and kindness from around the world, helping to drown out the death threats and discord.
“I’m very loved in San Francisco, really, really,” Mohamed said of the city he moved to more than a decade ago. “I haven’t worn it since I was a kid in Qatar, but I put it back on my shoulder in San Francisco with the rainbow on it.”
For him, it is important to wear a bisht for everyone to see: “The emir of Qatar made (Lionel) Messi wear a bisht at the last World Cup to celebrate Messi. We should be celebrated too.”
Mohamed preaches love at World Cup
Dr. Naz, an LGBTQ+ activist and HIV family physician, launched the Love is the Goal campaign ahead of the World Cup and Pride Month, hoping to humanize everyone involved. In the video, he combined soccer jargon with references to love. For example, he reads, “Love is the kick-off, the very first touch,” while another suggests, “Love is the assist, finding exactly where you are.”
“Saving lives like mine is very expensive. I know that. It’s a hard fact,” Mohamed said. “So I had to make my own way and get out. I lost everything. I was completely disowned. I had to build myself from the ground up, everything from scratch.”
On Wednesday, Qatar will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group stage match in Seattle. Although Mohamed was not in attendance, he did play in the team’s first game on June 13 in Santa Clara, California. He had clear and visible security and was escorted by California Sen. Scott Wiener. 1-1 draw with Switzerland. Photos from that day have been viewed more than 12 million times on social media.
“Everyone was taking pictures of me with the senator as I walked by,” he recalled. “It was very dramatic.”
And moving.
“I couldn’t speak in the stadium because once I started speaking, I couldn’t stop crying, because when will I ever see Qatar again in my life?” Mohamed said through tears. “When will this happen again? I don’t know. When will I be able to go home? I won’t be able to see my mom and dad. Even when the missiles are being fired.”
Mohammed supports Qatar even in exile
After the game, he hosted a dance party and performed at the San Francisco Mint. “Let your love shine” It was written by my good friend Simon Tam and sung by Debbie Holliday.
“Nas’s journey moves me because it is rooted in extraordinary courage and a big heart,” Tam said. “He took his own truth and turned it into a way to help others feel seen, valued, and feel less alone.”
Tam believes Mohamed can change the world – and that’s the doctor’s hope.
“The first step to healing is witnessing things as they really are,” Mohamed said. “My ultimate goal is for every child to be able to belong to their own family, to their own society.”
Still, his heart breaks knowing he won’t be able to return to Qatar. Mohamed has been ostracized by his family for his sexuality and for standing up to authority to help others. For people in need, including imprisoned and tortured transgender women, he supported their migration from Qatar and secured resources so they could rebuild their lives elsewhere.
Mohamed is grateful for this new existence, accepting the obstacles that come with the job, even though he believes his safety may be at risk.
“We all fled persecution and took political asylum in the United States, and now we have invited everyone to come here to play soccer,” he said. “I didn’t feel safe leaving my apartment.”
Still, at the end of the day, he’s rooting for Qatar and the Americans. He is scheduled to watch the United States play in the Round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium next week.
“I support both the United States and Qatar with love,” he said. “They both had a home for me. When I challenge either, it’s out of love and I mean it.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
