Intellectual Brown Web #2: Muslims vs. LGBTQ+

The "brown rebellion" is intensifying. That's bad news for Democrats. Is it time for a course-correct? A debate between two Muslims, one ex-Muslim, and an atheist.

Before we get to the new episode (scroll down), here’s some background to get you oriented.

We brown folk have to be a bit careful when discussing the "brown rebellion" within the Democratic Party lest white liberals turn against us even more than they're bound to. But what is done must be done. A couple months ago, we announced the formation of a bold new chapter in brown-ness. It came to be known by the name Intellectual Brown Web (IBW), a loose, informal collective of browns who disagree on a lot of things (particularly religion) but like and respect each other—not despite our differences but more likely because of them.

First there were four, all from Muslim backgrounds but quite diverse: our kind host and podcaster extraordinaireRazib Khan (currently an atheist, though I’m working on it), Sarah Haider (an ex-Muslim) andMurtaza Hussain (a believing Muslim who writes forThe Intercept).

Well, it continues. We’re thrilled to share Episode #2 with you all. We discuss the growing tensions between Muslim Americans and members of the LGBTQ+ community—and the Democratic Party more generally. Was it inevitable? Was the “War on Terror” simply a two-decade interregnum interrupting the alignment of Muslims with social conservatives? And what is the place of Muslim intellectuals and politicians in the progressive movement going forward?

The full episode, which gets wonderfully chaotic at various moments, is available for subscribers below. Also included is a transcript. It’s probably best to limit this to those who are willing to listen and engage in good faith.