PHILADELPHIA—Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World will be the international focus of Equality Forum 2008, which will be held on April 28 to May 4 in Philadelphia. The annual Equality Forum is the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. "The assertion of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that there are no gay Iranians reflects governmental and religious denial and oppression," stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. "Given the importance of Islam on world events and our community, Equality Forum 2008 will examine the status and plight of gays and lesbians in Muslim nations." On Thursday, May 1, "Gays and Lesbians in the Muslim World" will be moderated by international journalist Michael Luongo with panelists Afdhere Jama, editor of Huriyah; Arsham Parsi, founder of the IRanian Queer Organization (IRQO); John Scagliotti, creator and executive producer of the PBS series In the Life; and Parvez Sharma, director of the documentary A Jihad for Love. On Friday, May 2, Equality Forum presents a screening of A Jihad for Love. A Q&A follows with director Parvez Sharma, producer Sandi DuBowski and Muslim activist Afdhere Jama. On Sunday, May 4, Equality Forum presents "A Conversation with Irshad Manji" at the National Constitution Center. Manji is a Muslim reformer whom The New York Times calls, "Osama bin Laden's worst nightmare." She is the best-selling author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith, and is creator of the acclaimed PBS documentary, Faith without Fear. Other international programs include "Out in the World: Building a Global LGBT Human Rights Movement," presented by Amnesty International USA. Equality Forum 2008 has no registration fee and all substantive programs are free.
ABOUT EQUALITY FORUM Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high impact initiatives and presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights forum. www.equalityforum.com | 
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