Formally wearing a conventional Qatari bisht, Dr. Nasser Mohamed strolled previous a crowd of a number of hundred folks exterior Chase Middle because the England-CroatiaFIFA World Cup match was proven excessive above on the large display. His gold-and-black gown featured a flourish: rainbow piping down every sleeve and the phrases “love” and “freedom” written in Arabic.
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“That is why the World Cup is actually highly effective, as a result of folks needn’t hear about who I’m — I can simply stroll, be seen, and that is it,” he mentioned. “We do not have to say a phrase.”
4 years in the past, when the World Cup was performed in his dwelling nation and Mr. Mohamed was already dwelling the world over in San Francisco, he got here out and have become an exceptionally uncommon overtly homosexual man from Qatar, the place homosexual intercourse is prohibited and he cannot current femininely.
Mr. Mohamed is talking up once more for these with out a voice. The 39-year-old now feels safe sufficient to stroll round with confidence, and with out worry of hurt, whereas sporting chunky heeled boots, mascara and 2-inch dangly earrings. He nonetheless will get common backlash and hate, however he has additionally discovered help and kindness from across the globe that helps drown out the loss of life threats and divisiveness.
“I’m so beloved in San Francisco, actually, actually,” Mr. Mohamed mentioned of the town he moved to greater than a decade in the past. “I’ve not worn this since I used to be a child in Qatar, and San Francisco put it again on my shoulders, with rainbows.”
For him, donning the bisht for everybody to see is essential: “The emir of Qatar put it on [Lionel] Messi on the final World Cup to have a good time Messi. We ought to be celebrated too.”
Mohamed campaigns for love on the World Cup
An LGBTQ+ activist and household physician who treats HIV, “Dr. Nas” — as he’s identified — launched his “Love is the Aim” marketing campaign forward of the World Cup and Pleasure Month, hoping to humanize all folks participating. For a video, he mixed soccer lingo with references to like, equivalent to him studying “love is kickoff, the very first contact,” and another person providing “love is the help, discovering you precisely the place you’re.”
“Saving a life like mine could be very costly, and I do know that, and that is the arduous reality,” Mr. Mohamed mentioned. “In order that’s why I needed to pave my very own path and get out. I misplaced every thing. I am disowned utterly. I needed to construct myself from scratch, the bottom up, all of it.”
On Wednesday (June 24, 2026), Qatar performs its closing group-stage match, in opposition to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle. Mr. Mohamed will not be there, however he was at the team’s first game, on June 13 in Santa Clara, California. He had clear and visual safety, and was escorted by California state Sen. Scott Wiener to the 1-1 draw with Switzerland. A photograph from the day has greater than 12 million views on social media.
“As I used to be passing, all people was taking footage of me with the senator,” he recalled. “It was so dramatic.” And emotional.
“Within the stadium I could not communicate as a result of if I began speaking I am not going to cease crying, as a result of when am I going to see Qatar once more in my life?” Mohamed mentioned via tears. “When is it ever going to occur once more? I do not know. When am I going to see dwelling? I can not see Mother and Dad, even once they had been getting hit by missiles.”
Even in exile, Mohamed nonetheless cheers for Qatar
After the sport, he hosted a dance get together on the San Francisco Mint highlighted by a efficiency “Let Your Love Shine,” written by shut pal Simon Tam and sung by Debby Vacation.
“Nas’ journey strikes me as a result of it’s rooted in extraordinary braveness and an unlimited coronary heart,” Mr. Tam mentioned. “He is taken his personal reality and turned it right into a manner to assist others really feel seen, worthy, and fewer alone.”
Mr. Tam believes Mr. Mohamed can change the world — and that is the physician’s hope, too.
“Step one to heal is to witness issues the way in which they’re,” Mr. Mohamed mentioned. “My endgame is for each youngster to belong with their very own household and their very own society.”
Nonetheless, it breaks his coronary heart understanding he cannot return to Qatar. Mr. Mohamed has been ostracized by his circle of relatives due to his sexuality and for standing as much as energy to assist others. For these in want, together with a transgender lady who had been imprisoned and tortured, he has aided their strikes out of Qatar and secured assets so they may rebuild their lives elsewhere.
Mr. Mohamed is grateful for this new existence, embracing the obstacles that include his work, at the same time as he believes his security may very well be at stake.
“All of us fled persecution and took political asylum within the U.S., and now we invited all of them to come back right here to play soccer,” he mentioned. “I did not really feel secure leaving my residence.”
Nonetheless, after every thing, he roots for Qatar — and the Individuals. He plans to look at the U.S. throughout the spherical of 32 subsequent week at Levi’s Stadium.
“I’m cheering for each america and for Qatar with love,” he mentioned. “They each had properties for me and, once I problem both of them, it’s out of affection, and I imply it.”
Printed – June 24, 2026 03:51 pm IST
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