Today a guy named Matthew Mahmood-Ogston came to my school to discuss and inform us about the foundation which he has created. His foundation purpose is to help tackle homophobia triggered by religion to help parents accept their children or relative. Matthew came up with this foundation when his fiance who he was in a relationship for 13 years. He told us it was love at first sight when they met. His fiance's name was Nazim Mahmood who was a Muslim and his family was very religious. He explained to us on how much they were in love with each other which really touched my heart and most of my friends in school. However on the 30th July 2014 just two days after Nazim told his family he was gay, he committed suicide. For days and weeks Matthew was in pain. He lost the one who was his soul mate and that completed his life. Matthew started to think of committing suicide as he thought, 'what is a life without Nazim'. However then he remembered what Nazim said to him and it was that if he was gone, to never forget him and that is when Matthew started this campaign. At the start it was small but gradually grew. He got the attention of the world when he announced that he was going to do a 150 miles walk from his and Nazim's home all the way to Birmingham where he was buried. He thought he was going to do it alone, however along the way people started to join him in his campaign, which got the attention of the media. It was estimated that about £11,000 was raised by people all over the world from the UK, Australia,USA, Canada, Europe and the United Arab Emirates. He wants to help open people's eyes and see that anyone that is associated with LGBTQI (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex) are all people, you cannot change who they are. Religions need to see that there is nothing written in the holy texts which says that Homosexuality is a sin. Naz and Matt Foundation mission is which is quoted on their website "Our mission is to never to let religion, any religion, come in the way of the unconditional love between parents and their children"
If you are someone who is having trouble with coming out to your family that you are gay no matter if you are religious or not, then I would highly suggest that you press the link below or talk to someone in your school. There is help everywhere. So I urge you if you need help with coming out or a chat about your sexuality then clink the link below or talk to school.https://www.nazandmattfoundation.org/
Thx for all reading!!!!
