Urooj Arshad

Urooj Arshad is a champion for LGBTQI+ rights and has been for over 20 years. Co-founder of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, she has been striving hard to secure rights for LGBTQ Muslims. Currently the Senior Program Manager of Dignity for All at Freedom House, Urooj can now be booked to speak about pressing topics like gendered Islamophobia and homophobia, LGBTQ rights and activism, and transphobia.

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Biography:

Urooj Arshad is a champion for LGBTQI+ rights and has been for over 20 years. Co-founder of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, she has been striving hard to secure rights for LGBTQ Muslims. To this effect, she has also developed two programs at Advocates for Youth, the Muslim Youth Leadership Council, and the International LGBTQ Youth Health and Rights Program at Advocates for Youth. Urooj can now be booked to speak about pressing topics like gendered Islamophobia and homophobia, LGTBTQ rights and activism, and transphobia.

Currently the Senior Program Manager of Dignity for All at Freedom House, Urooj has spent the better part of her career working at Advocates of Youth. She started working as a Program Manager for the Youth of Colour Initiative at Advocates of Youth and worked her way up to being the Director of International LGBTQ Youth Health and Rights at Advocates for Youth. Urooj’s work has been featured in leading publications like Teen Vogue, The Oprah Magazine, USA Today, and NBC News.

In 2011, Urooj was invited to speak at The White House during Barack Obama’s Presidency and served on the 59th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2015. She has collected a myriad of accolades throughout her career such as the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance’s Community Catalyst Award, the Young Women of Colour HIV/AIDS Coalition’s Award, the National Association of Asian American Professionals Pride Award, the National Queer API Alliance’s Community Catalyst Award, and the Latino GLBT History Project’s Award. She is also a Board member of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

Fellow of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute and Member of the Centre for American Progress Women’s Health Leadership Network, Urooj is particularly skilled at program development, strategic planning, fundraising, and philanthropic advocacy. A fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ community rights, she is now available to speak at a wide range of events on Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia, and how to combat these prevalent issues. If you are looking for an experienced, capable, LGBTQ+ rights activist, look no further than Urooj Arshad.

Book Urooj Arshad Today!

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Testimonials

"Urooj Arshad is a gem. She is a deeply passionate community leader, an inspiring speaker who speaks from the heart. Her stories and deep knowledge of intersectional social justice as well as internationalism come out through her talks. She is also a gem because of literal sparkle-- her outfits and style are on point, and she is well known for bringing the bling! Urooj's deep experience, interactiveness, and style are bound to engage students and participants at events. I look forward to every opportunity I have to bring her back to speak on our campus." - Shige, University of Maryland

"We were lucky to have Urooj give an engaging and thoughtful presentation about the complexities of Queer Muslim life. She managed to encapsulate how her lived experiences and activism are inextricably enmeshed with larger societal structures and politics. She pushed students to think critically and engage beyond their perspectives with her anecdotes of work across continents and with a variety of communities. She didn't shy away from the difficult questions and explaining complex topics, leaving students thought provoked and ready for a fruitful discussion." - Amina Awad

"Urooj’s presentation in Oslo, Norway during the 'Intersections of Islamophobia and LGBTIQ+phobia' seminar brought important perspectives from the U.S. Her critical analysis around gendered islamophobia not only grounds the reality of LGBTQ Muslims living in the U.S. within the larger geo-political contexts, it also makes connections that are relevant to those of us living in Europe. Her talk 'Islam and LGBTIQ+ are not mutually exclusive – best practices from the United States' is a testament to LGBTQ Muslim’s struggles in a time of rising fascism, xenophobia and islamophobia but also a reminder that the only way forward is by centering the intersectional lives of those most impacted." - Dino, International platform for queer Muslims

"Urooj was invited to present her work and expertise at a two day workshop held at Columbia University entitled Global Governance of the Intimate. Her presentation 'Pushing back simultaneously against gendered islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia: LGBTQ Muslims in the age of Trump' was deeply engaging and informative for our group of feminist scholars, journalists, and activists working on gender in South Asia and the Middle East. Urooj masterfully touched upon complex issues using accessible language. Urooj has a clear passion and commitment to her work that energized us all." - Joymala Hajra, Columbia University

Speaking Topics

Understanding Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate
LGBTQ Muslims in the age of Trump
Global to local: Connecting LGBTQ work in Pakistan to issues affecting LGBTQ Muslims in the U.S.
Gendered Islamophobia and homonationalism
LGBTQ Rights and activism in Pakistan

Achevements

2019 - Senior Programme Manager, Dignity for All for Freedom House
2017 - Director of International LGBTQ Youth Health and Rights for Advocates for Youth
2011 - Associate Director, International Youth Health & Rights for Advocated For Youth
Co-founder of the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Recipient of the National Association of Asian American Professional’s Pride Award
Recipient of the Young Women of Colour HIV/AIDS Coalition’s Award
Recipient of the National Queer API Alliance’s Community Catalyst Award
Recipient of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance’s Community Catalyst Award
Recipient of the Latino GLBT History Project’s Award

How to Hire Urooj Arshad

To book Urooj Arshad as the speaker for your corporate event, function or conference, contact The Motivational Speakers Agency on 0207 0787 876 or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively use the enquiry form below and one of our official booking agents will call you back.

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