24-year-old Jahed Choudhury and 19-year-old Sean Rogan tied the knot in Walsall registry office in traditional Muslim attire. The pair, who’ve been together for two years, first met when Choudhury was crying on a bench in Darlaston. .
He told Express and Star: “I’d not long overdosed and I was crying on a bench and Sean came over and asked if I was okay.” Adding that Sean gave him hope at his lowest point and has stood by him ever since.
Choudhury said that being an openly-gay Muslim made him feel like something of a ‘black sheep’ and that he ‘stood out like a sore thumb’ and often felt trapped between his sexuality and faith. .
He tried to deny his orientation and even tried taking medication and a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. Although his family were’t present for the ceremony, Choudhury believes the wedding is significant progress for the Muslim and LGBT communities alike. .
He added: “My family doesn’t want to come on the day, they just don’t want to see it, it’s too embarrassing for them.” Choudhury says that some of his family members dismiss his sexuality and happy relationship with Sean as a ‘disease’ or a phase. .
He added: “I want to say to all people going through the same thing that’s it’s okay – we’re going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.”
