The End of a Gay American Imam

Daayiee Abdullah, Founder of Mecca Institute and America’s first openly gay imam, passes on in Colombia at 71.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Daayiee Abdullah, the first Black gay imam in the US, has been remembered as a “gentle, courageous soul”, after he died at the age of 71. 

The LGBTQ+ activist, who founded Mecca Institute, a not-for-profit organisation that works to expand progressive Islamic theology through education and research, dedicated his life to promoting understanding and awareness of issues of racial gender and sexual equality. 

The institute announced his death in a Facebook post.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Daayiee Abdullah, a trailblazer of human rights and the first openly gay imam in the United States, recently in Bogota, Colombia,” it read. 

One person responded: “He will truly be missed. He was so kind and I’m in disbelief. Thank you so much for your presence, imam Daayiee.” 

Someone else wrote: “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Daayiee Abdullah, a gentle, courageous soul who gave so much love, wisdom and light to those around him. He was a sincere teacher and a good friend whose memory will continue to inspire many hearts.” 

The Mecca Institute revealed in January that Abdullah had been awarded the 2025 creating change award from the National LGBTQ Task Force.

Speaking in 2015 about the creation of the institute, Abdullah said: “Five years from now, I want to see 100 new imams who’ve been trained in an inclusive Muslim ideology. 

“All our classes will be open to Muslims and non-Muslims. Anyone who wants to learn about Islam, Christianity or Judaism and promote inter-faith relations will be welcome. As an institute, we want to melt barriers and open up dialogue between diverse people.”

Originally from Detroit, Abdullah studied Chinese and Arabic languages at Beijing University, and learned about the Chinese Silk Road traders, who were introduced to Islam and did not have issues with same-sex relationships.

“The Islam they practiced did not see being gay as an issue since Chinese history includes many leaders with same-gender partners,” he said. “They took me to their mosque and what I heard made perfect sense, so I kept going back.”

Abdullah also wrote Progressive Islam, which celebrates the liberal and inclusive aspects of the Muslim faith.

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