“Everyone Should Mind their Jihād”. Polish Female Converts to Islam against Homonegativity

Predominantly Catholic and governed in the years 2015–2023 by the populist right Law and Justice Party, Poland is a country that has adopted a conservative stance towards the LGBT+ community. Homonegativity has entered the mainstream political discourse, while the notion of gender is considered a dangerous ideology. This political setting has also strengthened negative attitudes towards Muslims and led to the rise of Islamophobia. Against this context, the article aims to analyse approaches to Islam and LGBT+ issues of Polish females converting to Islam, who strive against homonegativity. To reconcile their religion and acceptance of LGBT+ people, they implement strategies that critically engage with Islamic jurisprudence and secular approaches of not interfering in other people’s matters. Many Polish female converts reflect on similarities between being Muslim and LGBT+ people in Poland, as both share the same context of exclusion and discrimination.