Queer Pakistani Muslim poet Bushra Rehman gives powerful reading at UMass

On May 3, at 7 p.m. a group of about 20 shuffled into a room located in the New Africa House on the UMass campus for a reading by queer Pakistani poet Bushra Rehman, who shared excerpts from her newly published novel; Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion.

The event was sponsored by two campus organizations, The Women of Color Leadership Network—an advocacy, mentoring, programming, and training center for women and nonbinary people of color—and The UMass Stonewall Center—an LGBTQIA+ resource, support, and programming center. 

According to Hind Mari— director of WOCLN and faculty organizer for this event — soon after Roses in the Mouth of a Lion was published last December, she attended a reading by Bushra. “I knew right then that I wanted to host her at UMass,” she said. “As an immigrant myself, I am too familiar with the stereotyping of immigrants, especially those from Muslim countries.”

“Rehman was not afraid to use her poetic language and rich descriptions to transport us to the heart of the Pakistani American Muslim community she grew up in in Corona, NY,” Mari said.

“She showed us the complexities of her community, with its struggles, pain, and beauty,” added Mari.

Mari was particularly impressed with the “narrative of young Razia and her coming of age as a first generation who is trying to navigate the strict family life, the racism she faces outside, and the internal conflict of realizing she was queer.”

Mari stated that she believes it is important to show the breadth and diversity of Muslims in the U.S. who are depicted as members of a monoculture regardless of their experiences or where they come from. 

“By inviting Rehman, who is a proud Pakistani queer Muslim woman to campus, we dispel that myth and may remind some girls out there, who share some of her identities, that it is OK to be authentic to who they truly are,” Mari said. 

Rehman’s Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion has received an array of accolades including Editor’s Choice or Best Book by NYT, LA Times, The Washington Post, Ms. Magazine, BookRiot, and Lambda Literary.

Readers have expressed special appreciation for Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion, describing it as “nuanced,” “touching,” and “beautiful” in reviews on Goodreads.