15 February 2016

Liberal Judaism’s Surat-Shaan Knan has been selected as a Stonewall ‘role model’ for LGBT History Month.

Celebrated every February, the aim of the month is to celebrate the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people from the past and present. The theme this year is Religion, Belief & Philosophy.

As part of the month, Stonewall – the campaigning and lobbying organisation – is profiling the inspirational LGBTQI+ people of faith it has worked alongside to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

One of those is Surat-Shaan, the project manager for the Rainbow Jews and Twilight People projects – both of which are proudly hosted by Liberal Judaism and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A posting on the Stonewall website says: “Surat-Shaan is a Jewish trans man. He spent most of his young years in the Mediterranean, and now lives in London. He is an international speaker, writer and campaigner. He feels he’s never quite fitted neatly into ‘those little gender boxes of female and male’.

“He’s also an active member of the Liberal Jewish community, working for UK charity Liberal Judaism, and feels blessed to be part of a welcoming and inclusive faith community.”

Surat-Shaan is also a member of Stonewall’s Trans Advisory Group, which supports the integration of trans equality across all of Stonewall’s campaigns and programmes, as well as advising the chief executive and senior management team.

Twilight People is Britain’s first ever project and exhibition highlighting the heritage of transgender and gender nonconforming people of faith.

A collection of photographs, recordings and artefacts exploring this ‘hidden history’ are on display at Islington Museum in London until March 5. The exhibition will then go on tour around the country.

For more information on the exhibition please visit www.islington.gov.uk/heritage and www.twilightpeople.com