Apply to join our community-led book clubs!
In 2022, HEART released our book, The Sex Talk: A Muslim’s Guide to Healthy Sex and Relationships. The book we wished we had growing up, this book offers a gender-affirming, non-judgemental, and faith-inspired approach to sex education. Covering topics like healthy relationships, first time having sex, and sexual health, this book is relevant both for folks who have never been in a relationship, and folks who have been married for years. As Dr. amina wadud said about the book, “even though I am 70 years old and three times retired, I learned a lot.”
We truly believe that this book is an invaluable resource to all Muslims, which is why we are excited to announce our community-led book clubs! We will have 5-10 book clubs nationwide, and each book club will be capped 15-20 people. Building on our research projects and book talks from 2022, these book clubs are an opportunity for young Muslims to have self-led and HEART staff-supported conversations on all things sexual health, healthy relationships, and more! Open to all Muslims in the United States, participants will receive a FREE copy of The Sex Talk: A Muslim’s Guide to Healthy Sex & Relationships.
Laila & Bayan
Tuesdays at 6 pm ET
We will be discussing the intersection of our plural identities as Muslims in this book club. This is meant to be a safe space for all Muslims INCLUDING those who are queer, disabled, and practice in ways we may not understand.
Laila Salaam (she/her) is a young reproductive justice advocate. She recently graduated from George Washington University with a degree in international affairs with a concentration in the Middle East and Africa. She has taken this degree and her passion for reproductive justice in to a career as an organizer at Reproaction. She proudly believes in taking her faith and lived experience into her activism
Bayan Boulad (she/her) is a Syrian American born and raised in Sacramento California. She is currently residing in New York City where she attends City University of New York School of Public Health and specializes in Maternal, Infant, Reproductive, and Sexual Health. Bayan’s professional goals include reducing the maternal mortality rate and improving health literacy in marginalized communities to better the health and well-being of everyone. In her spare time, she enjoys relaxing with her cat, Cleo, reading books written by SWANA authors, and reconnecting with her Syrian roots by cooking and baking traditional dishes.
Maryam & Anqa
Mondays at 6 PM EST
Our book club is a safe, expansive space to discuss sex and intimacy in our Muslim communities. We are grounded in reproductive justice and safety for queer and trans Muslims, disabled & neurodivergent Muslims, and asexual/aromantic Muslims!
Maryam (she/her) is a Kashmiri-American graduate student in political science at Rutgers University. Her areas of interest include the Kashmir conflict and South Asian politics. She currently works as an academic advisor at Rutgers University, supporting undergraduate students through their educational journeys. In her spare time, she enjoys going on drives, eating good food, and advocating for liberation of all marginalized communities.
Anqa (they/them) is a queer Kashmiri-American organizer, reproductive health researcher, and sex educator based in Brooklyn, NY. They organize for queer of color liberation at the Audre Lorde Project, recently graduated from CUNY School of Public Health with an MPH, and love meandering, good food, and getting up to no good.
Kieran & Areeba
Kieran (they/she) is a Black Queer, non-binary individual, with a passion for Islam, Black Feminist theory and praxis, and community building. They currently work as a program manager for first-year underrepresented college students. They graduated from (The) Ohio State University with degrees in Journalism and Black Studies, and they plan to continue their education to get a PhD and become a professor. They love to write, make jewelry, read, go to concerts and cook. As a Muslim revert (2021), the HEART community has proved to be an incredibly valuable and meaningful resource for them. She is looking forward to learning, reading and discussing with the book club 🙂
Areeba (she/her) graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in philosophy and social relations & public policy. She is working in the development field in the non-profit industry.
