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Naz and Matt Foundation

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Naz and Matt Foundation
Formation2014
TypeNGO
Legal statusCharity[1]
PurposeLGBT rights
Executive Director
Matt Mahmood-Ogston
Websitewww.nazandmattfoundation.org

Naz and Matt Foundation is a charity based in the United Kingdom that tackles homophobia triggered by religious and cultural beliefs.

The organisation was established in 2014 following the death of Dr Nazim Mahmood,[2] by his long term fiancé Matt Mahmood-Ogston[3] (formerly Matthew Ogston).[4]

The primary objective of the charity is to "tackle homophobia triggered by religion to help parents accept their children".[4] The Foundation campaigns in the national media and give talks in schools and universities. They provide support to LGBTQI individuals and their family to help resolve challenges linked to sexuality, gender identity and religion.

Current work

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Naz and Matt Foundation have a schools programme for secondary schools and are UK publishers of a children's book, Salim's Secret.[5]

The charity has delivered school talks in the UK, including Bradford, Birmingham, Leeds, London, Oldham and York focusing on the importance for parents and families to accept their relatives regardless of their sexuality or gender identity.[6]

Founder Matt Mahmood-Ogston has campaigned in the local,[7] national[8][9] and international press to raise awareness of the dangers of homophobia triggered by religious or cultural belief. And more recently calling for the criminalisation of 'gay cure therapy',[10] also known as conversion therapy.

In April 2015, the Foundation led by Matt marched 150 miles[11] from London to Birmingham to raise awareness about what happened to Dr Nazim Mahmood, and the dangers of homophobia if not tackled within families and religious communities.

In 2017, English folk group The Young'uns released a new song called "Be the Man",[12] on their album "Strangers", documenting the love story of Naz and his fiancé Matt, whom the charity was named after.

In 2018 and 2019 the Foundation worked with actress Bhavna Limbachia and UK TV soap Coronation Street to support a high-profile storyline featuring the programme's first ever lesbian Muslim character, Rana Habeeb and her onscreen romantic relationship with Kate Connor (played by Faye Brookes).[13][14] The storyline was inspired by the story of what happened to Dr Nazim Mahmood (Matt's fiancé) [15]

In 2023 the Foundation launched a parent-led support group for Desi parents who have LGBTQI+ children.[16], and appeared in the BBC One documentary My Hindu Coming Out Story,[17] as part of the series Love, Faith and Me.

Awards

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  • Awarded 'Best Programme/Show of 2021' for their documentary "My God, I'm Queer"[18] at the Asian Media Awards in Manchester.[19] The film was broadcast on Channel 4[20] and shortlisted for the Iris Prize.[21] at the Asian Media Awards in Manchester [22]
  • Awarded the "Faith and Belief Community Award" for the charity's work supporting faith and belief communities in Greater London with their annual #OutAndProudParentsDay campaign [23]
  • Shortlisted for a British LGBT Awards, 'Top 10 Charity or Community Initiative' (2019)[24]
  • Awarded the True Honour Award for "Outstanding Organisation Tackling 'Honour' Based Violence" by the Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation (IKWRO) (2019)[25]
  • Shortlisted for the "Upstanding Organisation Award" at the No2H8 Crime Awards, organised by Tell MAMA (2017)[26]
  • Awarded the JCI 'Ten outstanding young persons' award for 'Cultural Achievement' (2016)[27]
  • Founder, Matthew Mahmood-Ogston, voted the sixth 'most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender person in Britain' (2015)[28]
  • Awarded the Attitude Pride Award for 'building bridges between religious and LGBT communities (2015)'[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Naz and Matt Foundation, registered charity no. 1160694". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  2. ^ "My boyfriend killed himself because his family couldn't accept that he was gay". The Guardian. 21 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Matt Mahmood-Ogston". Matt Mahmood-Ogston's personal website. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b "About Naz and Matt Foundation". Naz and Matt Foundation. 19 March 2015.
  5. ^ Salim's Secret. ASIN 1999847903.
  6. ^ "Tackling religious homophobia with the Naz and Matt Foundation". The Co-operative Academy of Leeds.
  7. ^ "Fiancé of doctor driven to suicide calls on homophobic communities to 'open their eyes'". Ham and High. 11 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Asian And Gay: Doctor Was Driven To His Death". Sky News.
  9. ^ "Naz Mahmood death: Support group for gay Asians created". BBC News.
  10. ^ "The petition to end 'Gay Conversion Therapy in the UK". Cities of London & Westminster Labour Party. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  11. ^ "The Journey To Find Acceptance - ITV News Interview". ITV News. 10 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Be the Man (the story of Naz and Matt)". The Young'uns.
  13. ^ "Rana kidnapped by her family next week – Bhavna Limbachia reveals all". Radio Times.
  14. ^ "Bhavna Limbachia and Matt Mahmood-Ogston interviewed on BBC Breakfast TV". BBC Breakfast (YouTube). 29 April 2018.
  15. ^ "A gay Muslim who took his own life has inspired a Coronation Street storyline". iNews. 24 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Foundation Launches New Support Group for Desi Parents of LGBTQI+ Children". Naz and Matt Foundation. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  17. ^ "My Hindu Coming Out Story". BBC. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  18. ^ "My God, I'm Queer (Full film)". YouTube. 14 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Best Programme/Show of 2021". Asian Media Awards. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  20. ^ "Iris Prize Best British Short films head to All 4". Channel 4. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  21. ^ "My God, I'm Queer".
  22. ^ "My God, I'm Queer". Iris Prize. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Winners of The London Faith & Belief Community Awards 2020". The Faith & Belief Forum. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Shortlisted for a British LGBT Award". Diva Magazine. 5 February 2019.
  25. ^ "True Honour Award for "Outstanding Organisation Tackling 'Honour' Based Violence"". IKWRO.
  26. ^ "Shortlisted for "Upstanding Organisation Award" by No2H8 Crime Awards". Tell MAMA. 3 October 2017.
  27. ^ "JCI award for 'Cultural Achievement'". JCI United Kingdom. December 2016.
  28. ^ "The Rainbow List 2015: A celebration of pioneers and influencers". The Independent on Sunday. 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Awarded the Attitude Pride Award for 'building bridges between religious and LGBT communities'". Attitude Magazine.
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