Meet Pan Bash – a gay, Muslim porn-star

While he was in London, I caught up with Pan Bash to talk sex, history, and religion.

How did you personally reconcile your sexuality with your faith in Islam?

Whatever your religion, sexuality can be a complicated subject. Having studied the Kuran, I know that religion is a special thing between the person and God – it’s not a subject that’s open to discussion by others.

I grew up in a liberal part of Turkey, so it was perhaps a bit easier for me than for those in more conservative communities.

You and your family turned to therapy to help you navigate your sexuality. Why was that the right move for you?

My sister had found gay stuff on my laptop and showed it to my mother. I lied to my parents – I didn’t want to be abandoned by them. I told my parents that I’m bisexual, and that I was trying to focus on being with a girl.

At that time, around 2010, conversion therapy was a popular option in Turkey. I volunteered to go to conversion therapy – I had to take leave from university in order to do it.

The conversion therapy failed, obviously. But it did help me accept that I was gay, and it also helped my parents and my sister understand sexuality and accept me for who I am.

Why do you think some parents and communities who follow Islam are so against their children learning about LGBTQ people?

I don’t think it’s fair to only talk about Islam in this context – you could say the same thing about Christianity, Judaism, and other religions. It’s about being conservative. Being conservative often seems to mean that you fear things you don’t understand.

What makes me sad is that the world seems to be becoming more conservative.

You’ve been researching the history of homosexuality in Islamic culture, what have been some of the most surprising things you’ve found?

I’m still digging into the history of it all. I’m not just focused on Islamic culture – I’m looking across Eastern Europe, including Asia Minor, the Far East, the Middle East, and some North African countries.

One thing that I’ve found interesting is that male prostitution was funded by the government in some ancient Mesopotamian cultures. It’s clear that gay men have been present throughout history and in all cultures.

How do you respond when people say that gay sex is incompatible with Islam?

I remind people that my sexuality and my religion are my business and – as required by Islam – should not be questioned by others. There’s only one judge, and that’s Allah.

I come from a culture where sexual things aren’t discussed by anyone – whatever your sexuality. In a way, that makes it easier to accept people for who they are.

Do you feel that a deeper understanding of the history of homosexuality within Islamic culture would help tackle both homophobia and Islamophobia?

I still have a lot of research to do, but I can say that Eastern cultures seemed to be much more liberated in the past – before colonisation. The ancient civilisations – including those that followed Islam – used to have a much deeper understanding of sex and sexual education in every possible way. In some cultures, sex was used as part of religious ceremonies. The ancient Eastern cultures didn’t have the kind of taboos that seem to fuel homophobia and Islamophobia today. It’s fascinating!

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