Gay man thought to become first Muslim to have UK same-sex marriage

A gay man is thought to have become the first Muslim to tie the knot in a same-sex marriage.

Jahed Chowdhary, 24, from the West Midlands, previously felt ostracised by the Muslim community and was even sent on a religious pilgrimage to change his sexual orientation.

But he has now tied the knot with Sean Rogan, 19, after the pair first met two years ago when Mr Chowdhary was sitting on a park bench contemplating taking his own life.

Yesterday, the pair made history as they were married at a ceremony in Walsall, with both wearing traditional Bangladeshi clothes.

Now, Mr Chowdhary has spoken of his hope that his marriage will act as encouragement for other Muslims who feel threatened by the response to their sexuality.

He said: ‘I want to say to all people going through the same thing that it’s okay – we’re going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.’

He also opened up on the bullying that he faced, and how Mr Rogan had changed his life.

‘I was crying on a bench and Sean came over and asked if I was okay. He gave me hope at one of my lowest points and he’s stood by me all the way’, he said.

‘I stood out like a sore thumb – I never liked football, I preferred watching fashion shows on TV. I remember feeling trapped.

‘It went all over school, people would spit on me, empty the rubbish bins on me, call me pig and the Muslim people would shout “harum” – which is a very nasty insult in my language.’

The ceremony was also attended by Mr Chowdhary’s mother, sister, older brother and cousin, along with Mr Rogan’s mother, two sisters and older brother.

The couple are now looking ahead to the future after moving into a housing association home together.

‘We have had death threats against us and our families. People telling me they are going to kill me and that I should never have been born. They are really vile, horrible comments’, Mr Chowdhary added.

‘But we are so happy we are able to just brush them off. We’ve had an awful lot of support too.’