Trans Muslim woman slams anti-trans Ramadan abuse: ‘You can’t tell me who I can’t be’
Content creator Faye Kingston wants other trans Muslims to know they aren’t alone. (Supplied)
“You’re going to hell. You can’t be Muslim, trans, or fast in Ramadan,” one hateful comment overlaid on content creator Faye Kingston’s Instagram reel reads.
It’s just one of many abusive messages she has received this Ramadan – the first year she has been open about her faith on social media. Yet 33-year-old Faye, who is trans and Muslim, carries herself with a grace that transcends the abhorrence she faces daily through online hate.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is what Faye describes as a time of “reflection, discipline and spiritual growth”. Beginning on the evening of 18 February and concluding on the evening on 19 March, subject to the sighting of the moon, it’s a sacred period for Muslims around the world.
In response to the hurtful comments she receives, she exclusively tells PinkNews: “My relationship with God is deeply personal. I do not see my identity and my faith as opposing forces. You can’t tell me who I can’t be. It’s between me and God.”
‘It’s not the discrimination that hurts – it’s the dehumanisation’
She admits it feels “difficult” to battle such hostility, but adds that it serves as a reminder of her faith, and that she approaches these siltations with “compassion”.
“Even if we don’t have the same opinion, I am human too. Being Muslim and being trans are both parts of my lived reality,” she says.
“I don’t feel like I have to prove to these people online what I can and can’t be. My relationship with God is not defined by comment sections.”
Comments that were “deeply below the belt” have been deleted, but some remain, including those condemning her as “haram”, meaning “forbidden”.
“Sometimes when conversation becomes loud, it’s easy to forget there are real people navigating their faith quietly and sincerely. It’s not the discrimination that hurts – it’s the dehumanisation,” she says of the noise online.
It was not until this year that she felt strong enough to be openly trans and Muslim online.
“Every year I used to practice, but I never brought it into my content,” she explains. Now, she wants to have these conversations publicly and show who she is “deep down”.
“It’s important to have this conversation – that I can exist as trans and Muslim. Faith is not something that can be removed by someone else’s opinion.
“As much as you have a right to live, I have a right to live as well.”
Throughout our conversation, Faye speaks passionately about her faith. It’s clear that her kindness is rooted in her devotion to it.
“My faith is something I practice private and sincerely, and I focus on my own accountability rather than external judgement,” she says.
Ramadan, she adds is “a very personal and grounding time” for her.
Faye hopes the Muslim community will lead with “compassion and humility”, noting: “Faith at its core teaches empathy and accountability. If we lead with kindness and conversation we become more human.”
Rightly, Faye refuses to give up her truth and hopes her visibility might guide others.
“For me, visibility feels important. Not everybody feels safe being visible, and I completely understand that. But I’m not the only person with this lived experience. I choose to share it because if someone sees it and feels alone, they need to know they matter.”
Faye can be found on social media at @fayekingstonx.
