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I was told it's dangerous for me, a Pakistani lesbian in America: Fawzia Mirza

I was told it's dangerous for me, a Pakistani lesbian in America: Fawzia Mirza

The actor reveals the threats she receives for being an open 'Pakistani lesbian'
Updated 23 Aug, 2016

Pakistani comedian Fawzia Mirza, who is currently shooting her lesbian drama Signature Move alongside veteran actor Shabana Azmi, calls herself "a lesbian, Muslim, Pakistani, actor, activist, writer, producer, lawyer and creature of passion," and no matter how the world perceive those labels, she doesn't see that as a threat.

"I was told by everyone who mattered that it was dangerous for me to be an out-of-the-closet lesbian who is a Pakistani in America. But I've never played the game by the rules.," she says, reported DNA India.

However as daunting that may have been, Fawzia never let fear get in the way of her goals. "I wanted to be all the things that I saw myself being. And if some of my roles made other people uncomfortable, so be it. As long as I am comfortable being a Pakistani lesbian, who is also an activist and an actress, I see no reason for anyone to be upset about it," she adds.

Last year, one of her earlier works, play Me, My Mom and Sharmila saw a positive response from audiences in Pakistan, however, her play could not be staged in certain areas of the country due to threats.

Says Fawzia on the matter, "I am a Canadian by birth. But my ties with my heritage in Pakistan are very strong. No one can take away my lineage and my roots from me. I've been to Pakistan eight times to visit my relatives. The one occasion when I faced protests and threats in Pakistan was when I took the play there. I couldn't perform it in areas populated by Punjabis. It was an eye-opener."

But the hate doesn't stop there; social media is full of trolls, people policing others, and inciting hate.

"There is so much hatred on the social network. My initial instincts were to block the ugly attacks on my sexuality, my nationality, my work and my identity. But instead I chose to tackle the hatred, try to reason with it," says the actor.

"The threat is everywhere, not just in Pakistan. But that won't stop me from being the person I am and doing the things I want to do," she adds.

In her upcoming film, the Pakistani actor will be seen as the director, producer and an actor, playing the role of the lesbian daughter in a relationship with a Mexican girl, who is a wrestler.

Of her upcoming venture, Fawzia explains why she chose female wrestling as the main storyline. "Yes, I find female wrestling such an underrated and misunderstood practice. My character's lover is a Mexican-American, and that's where the wrestling comes,"

The cast also includes the Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi who will be playing the role of her mother.

Signature Move is set for release in 2017.

Comments

vinit Aug 23, 2016 10:05am
Brave Lady
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Sam Aug 23, 2016 10:05am
A very brave and charming pakistani damsel.
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KB Aug 23, 2016 10:30am
Sounds interesting.
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Straight forward Aug 23, 2016 10:48am
Please get a good doctor and get rid of this psychological disease. This homosexuality is against all moral, cultural and religious aspects of any society and the order of nature.
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A Pakistani Aug 23, 2016 10:52am
Good luck. Remember these wise words: “Those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard Baruch
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Riz USA Aug 23, 2016 11:10am
Life is too short not to be who you are. Make a difference and ROCK ON!!!!!!
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Usman Aug 23, 2016 11:27am
Go Fawz Go! PROUD OF YOU!!
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Awesome Lyrics Aug 23, 2016 11:42am
Very bold
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The Observer Aug 23, 2016 02:38pm
Being morally ill and on top of that speaking about it loud doesnt mean that the person is bold.
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Harmony-1© Aug 23, 2016 03:07pm
@Straight Forward - I think you need some therapy too. There should be no discrimination towards sexual orientation.
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Dr.Arshad Aug 23, 2016 03:23pm
Narcissist and a lost soul! Modern celebrities are a plague to humanity. Their fans rot in poverty ,disease,waywardness but they thrive at their expense. They are "energy vampires "which leave millions drained and empty.
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Dr Qasim Aug 23, 2016 04:00pm
Pakistan and its people have no personal hate for anyone and for any group. It is the matter of personal moral and ethical codes which people hold dearly.
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WasimGNK Aug 23, 2016 06:32pm
@Straight forward that is such an idiotic suggestion. Please try to be tolerant to everyone and respect their differences
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Arif Aug 23, 2016 07:27pm
It is not just the "Punjabis" that she mentioned in the article but overwhelming majority of people in the world don't like LGBT because it is against the nature. No matter how much one justify that it is not by choice it is by birth, at the end of the day it is not right. Having said that I have no problem with LGBT, some of my close colleagues are Gay, we talk, we joke we hangout but that does not mean I have to accept their beliefs. Tolerance and coexist are what lack in our societies and that is what we should strive for.
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Sailani Aug 24, 2016 03:53am
@Harmony-1© I second that, this is the life she chose, don't bring in moral, cultural and religious reasoning.
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only Aug 24, 2016 04:22am
@Straight forward u ignorant id... thus is NOT a disease. Genes play a major role.
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Ahsan Gul Aug 24, 2016 07:59am
Ms. Mirza is making it to be lesbian a big thing to gain popularity. No one in Pakistan cares about what she does. It is all a stunt to market her upcoming movie.
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Libra One Aug 24, 2016 10:56pm
Who cares what she believes and what she practices. Every one has to go in own grave
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OMAR SHREEF Aug 25, 2016 02:55pm
@Arif You nailed it my friend. Tolerance and coexistence are what lack in our societies and that is what we should strive for.
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Proud Pakistani Aug 25, 2016 07:54pm
Pakistan has its own set of disciplines which must be followed when others ask to follow and this must be respected.
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