Samra Habib
Samra Habib is a Canadian photographer, writer and activist.[1] She is most noted for Just Me and Allah, a photography project she launched in 2014 to document the lives of LGBTQ Muslims,[2] and We Have Always Been Here, a memoir of her experience as a queer-identified Muslim woman published in 2019 by Penguin Random House Canada.[3]
Samra Habib | |
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Born | |
Occupation | writer, photographer, activist |
Born in Pakistan to Ahmadi Muslim parents, Habib emigrated to Canada with her family in 1991 to escape religious persecution.[3] She grew up primarily in Toronto, and was forced into an arranged marriage as a teenager before coming out as queer.[4]
We Have Always Been Here was selected for the 2020 edition of Canada Reads, in which it will be defended by actress Amanda Brugel.[5] It was also longlisted for the RBC Taylor Prize and won a Lambda Literary Award.[6] [7]
References
- Jane van Koeverden, "Why Samra Habib wrote a memoir about growing up as a queer Muslim woman — and it's now a Canada Reads finalist". CBC Books, June 26, 2019.
- Elisabeth Ponsot (May 8, 2015). "'Just me and Allah': Photographer seeks to capture diversity of Islam". PBS NewsHour.
- Sue Carter, "Samra Habib, founder of gay Muslim project, turns the camera on herself in new memoir". Toronto Star, June 21, 2019.
- Tracey Ho Lung, "Penning a memoir helped this author find joy from her pain". The Globe and Mail, July 16, 2019.
- "Meet the Canada Reads 2020 contenders". CBC Books, January 22, 2020.
- http://www.rbctaylorprize.ca/2020/longlist_20.asp
- https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/06/lambda-literary-lammy-32nd-annual-award-winners