Dr. Nasser Mohamed made a striking appearance at the Chase Center while the England-Croatia World Cup match was displayed on the big screen. Wearing a traditional Qatari bisht adorned with rainbow stripes and the words ‘love’ and ‘freedom’ in Arabic, he symbolized a powerful message. ‘People don’t need to hear about who I am — I can just walk, be seen,’ he explained. Despite being one of the rare openly gay men from Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, Mohamed embraces his identity proudly in San Francisco.
In Qatar, he cannot dress or express himself freely, but in San Francisco, he feels secure walking with vibrant attire and expressing his identity without fear. Although he faces regular backlash, the support he receives from around the globe Bolsters his resilience. ‘I am so loved in San Francisco,’ Mohamed says, celebrating the acceptance he finds there.
Donning the bisht, Mohamed highlights its significance, noting that it symbolizes celebration. ‘The emir of Qatar put it on Messi at the last World Cup to celebrate Messi. We should be celebrated too,’ he asserted.
Dr. Mohamed launched the ‘Love is the Goal’ campaign, combining soccer terms with messages of love. He shared statements such as ‘love is kickoff, the very first touch’ and ‘love is the assist, finding you exactly where you are.’ This initiative aims to humanize participants and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights during the World Cup and Pride Month.
‘Saving a life like mine is very expensive,’ Mohamed acknowledges, expressing the struggles he faced after being disowned and having to rebuild his life from scratch.
While Qatar plays its final group-stage match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle, Mohamed remains involved. He attended the team’s first game in California, supported by visible security and state Senator Scott Wiener. The day was emotional for Mohamed, reflecting on the absence of his home and family. ‘When am I going to see Qatar again? When is it ever going to happen again?’ he pondered, unable to hold back tears.
Even in exile, Mohamed continues to cheer for Qatar, hosting a dance party at the San Francisco Mint with performances celebrating love. His friend Simon Tam remarked, ‘Nas’ journey moves me because it is rooted in extraordinary courage and an enormous heart.’
Mohamed hopes to instigate positive change, advocating for children to belong with their families. His work includes aiding others in seeking asylum, including a transgender woman who faced dire circumstances in Qatar. Amidst challenges and threats, Mohamed finds solace in knowing he is helping others escape persecution.
Despite the personal sacrifices, he continues to support Qatar and the United States teams during the World Cup. ‘I am cheering for both the United States and Qatar with love,’ he shares, grateful for the homes both countries provided.
Dr. Mohamed’s journey and efforts exemplify resilience and hope, inspiring many worldwide.
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