"Queer Jews, Queer Muslims" with Adi Saleem and Shanon Shah
Apr 10, 2025
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Adi Saleem, an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan exploring race and religion, and Shanon Shah, a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London specializing in contemporary Islam, dive into their new book, 'Queer Muslims, Queer Jews.' They discuss the complexities of queer identities intersecting with faith and race, the impact of colonial legacies on gender, and the role of queer solidarity in socio-political conflicts. They also challenge prevailing narratives around anti-Semitism and emphasize the need for inclusivity in historical and future queer discourses.
The podcast emphasizes the significance of recognizing the intersectionality of queer identities within Judaism and Islam to understand complex lived experiences.
Discussions reveal how queerness can serve as resistance against colonial and capitalist frameworks, advocating for new understandings of gender and sexuality.
The conversation highlights the importance of political solidarity within social movements, prioritizing collective goals over individual identities to combat shared oppressions.
Deep dives
Reimagining Work Platforms
The episode discusses the challenges faced with outdated work platforms that hinder productivity, such as excessive onboarding processes and IT bottlenecks. In response to these frustrations, organizations are exploring newer solutions, specifically highlighting the appeal of monday.com, which offers user-friendly dashboards and customizable workflows that enhance efficiency. This shift towards more adaptable platforms suggests a growing demand for streamlined and intuitive work environments that cater to user needs. By prioritizing functionalities that resonate with employees, companies hope to foster better engagement and facilitate smoother operational processes.
Epistemological Complexities of Identity
The conversation touches on the intricate relationship between various identity categories, especially in the context of queer studies, Judaism, and Islam. Scholars at a symposium have explored how these identities intersect, presenting a broad spectrum of perspectives that challenge traditional binaries. The discussion emphasizes the need to differentiate between queer identities in academic discourse and their personal meanings in lived experiences. By doing so, it seeks to unpack the complexities involved in how individuals categorize themselves and the implications of these identities within societal frameworks.
Challenging Historical Narratives
The episode highlights the importance of recognizing the contingent nature of history, underscoring that historical events are often shaped by arbitrary circumstances rather than a single narrative. Researchers are encouraged to seek out alternative histories, particularly those that illuminate marginalized voices and experiences that have previously been silenced. This approach challenges the notion that history is a straightforward account of facts, instead advocating for a more nuanced understanding of events. By critically engaging with historical narratives, scholars aim to reveal underlying power dynamics and the complexities of human interactions.
Decolonial Perspectives on Queerness
Discussions on queerness reveal its potential to act as a site of resistance against colonial and capitalist frameworks that impose rigid norms on gender and sexuality. Scholars explore how colonial powers have historically enforced these binaries, and how contemporary movements can draw on alternative epistemologies to envision new possibilities beyond these constraints. This critique extends to secular governance, where Western concepts are often imposed on non-Western societies, resulting in the oppression of diverse identities. The discourse suggests that genuine progress requires intersecting queer and decolonial movements to address systemic inequities together.
Intersectional Activism and Political Alliances
The topic of political alliances within social movements is explored, particularly in relation to the pro-Palestinian movement, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together despite personal differences. The conversation emphasizes prioritizing political objectives over personal identities, advocating for solidarity in activism to combat common oppressions. This approach demonstrates how movements can successfully foster coalitions that transcend individual identities while addressing intricate power dynamics. Furthermore, it highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing intersectionality within activist spaces and the necessity of navigating complex identities to facilitate effective collaboration.
In this episode of Radio ReOrient, Claudia Radiven and Chella Ward spoke to Adi Saleem and Shanon Shah. They discussed the recent publication of the book Queer Muslims, Queer Jews: Race, Religion, and Representation (Wayne State UP, 2024) that Adi edited and Shannon contributed a chapter. Adi is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan with a focus on the intersection of race and religion, particularly in relation to Jews and Muslims. Shannon is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London with a focus on ethnographic study of religion, contemporary Islam and Christianity, new religious movements, gender and sexuality, popular culture, and social movements.
