Parvez Sharma - A Sinner in Mecca screening at SUNY Fredonia on April 26

Fredonia, New York (April 13, 2017) – Pride Alliance of State University of New York at Fredonia will host a film screening of A Sinner in Mecca by Parvez Sharma, with a lecture/discussion with Parvez himself immediately afterwards. The event will be April 26th in McEwen 209, from 6 pm-8:30 pm. Admission is free and tickets are not required.

Parvez Sharma makes fearless, multiple award-winning films about faith, identity, religious extremism and social justice.  His 2015 documentary, A Sinner in Mecca was shot mostly with an iPhone, guerrilla-style, as Sharma, an openly gay man, travels to Mecca to reveal a side of Islam that has literally never been seen before. "We emerge from the film more enlightened," writes The New York Times, naming it a Critics' Pick.  The film tells the story of Sharma's own pilgrimage and documents his struggle not only with his faith and sexuality, but also oppressive governments as he addresses problems to create a better future for all queer Muslims.

Sharma and his film well illustrate the intersections of sexuality, race, and faith in the formation of identity.  Pride hosts this event to educate the campus community about intersectionality by bringing light to issues not often encountered at Fredonia.