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OBE Online Course: Gender & Sexuality in Islamic Texts and Practices - Application Form (2025)

Instructor: Dr. Sulayman (Professor of Religion, PhD in Anthropology)

• Are you aware that there is a rigorous debate among Muslim scholars over gender and sexuality that goes back centuries? • Do you know that non-binary and non-cisgendered ways of being have existed in all Muslim societies, from Arabia to Persia to Southeast Asia? • Are you curious about transgender and queer Muslims and the canonical textual sources they cite and the organizations they have established around the world? • Do you want to arm yourself with robust knowledge to combat Islamophobia, Orientalism, and rainbow-washing/pinkwashing that are being deployed to justify the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine?

This course will draw on primary sources, historiographical work, and ethnographies of Islam. We will read Muslim scholarly views of gender and sexuality against key texts in Western feminism. We will identify the key issues at stake, and how these issues have been addressed. We will also explore the intersection of religion, race, and gender, and ask to what extent what we learn in this class can speak to the fight for the liberation of Palestine and the collective freedom of us all.

Thank you for your interest in learning with Orange Blossom Education! We are a worker co-op of language educators based in Tkaronto "Toronto".

Please note that:

• Learners must be 18 years of age or older. • The course is online on Zoom: 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern Time Zone), Thursdays, Dec 11th, 2025 - Feb 12th, 2026 (no classes on Dec 25th, 2025 and Jan 1st, 2026) • The course fee is 250~360 USD, based on a sliding scale of what you can afford. If you require further financial accommodation, please reach out to us.

Net proceeds from this course will be donated to:

• Palestinian families in Gaza on our list

• RASHD 拉熙德公益, an aid network run by Chinese Muslims in Egypt

• Sadaqah: Gaza Aid Initiative, a mutual aid network run by Palestinian students in China

If you've been approved to join a course, you'll receive an invoice from us from the email <contact.us@orangeblossomeducation.ca> via SquareSpace. Please note that the currency will be in Canadian dollars (CAD), converted from the price in US dollars you specified in this form, at the time the invoice email is sent. If you have any questions, please contact us by email <contact.us@orangeblossomeducation.ca>

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How much would you like to pay for the course (in USD)? We will use the amount to invoice you. Price: sliding scale of what you can afford: 250~360 USD.

Do you have any prior knowledge about Islam?

What issues or topics interest you? Such as social issues related to activism and organizing, etc., (Please provide specific details if possible. This will help us a lot in preparing our courses.)

I acknowledge the following rules if I am accepted into the course:

1. I will treat all participants, OBE staff and instructors with respect, and I will not bully or harass anyone.
2. I will not record any classes or share other participants' information.
3. I will not be disruptive in classes and OBE Discord server.
4. I will not deliberately share misinformation about anyone associated with OBE, or OBE itself.
5. I will not share the class meeting link or password with anyone.
6. I will not publish any class materials without obtaining consent from OBE.
7. I am aware that violation of any of these rules might result in my removal from a course, and possibly legal consequences.

I acknowledge the following rules if I am accepted into the course:1. I will treat all participants, OBE staff and instructors with respect, and I will not bully or harass anyone.2. I will not record any classes or share other participants' information.3. I will not be disruptive in classes and OBE Discord server.4. I will not deliberately share misinformation about anyone associated with OBE, or OBE itself.5. I will not share the class meeting link or password with anyone.6. I will not publish any class materials without obtaining consent from OBE.7. I am aware that violation of any of these rules might result in my removal from a course, and possibly legal consequences.

YES