Matt Mahmood-Ogston

Matt Mahmood-Ogston
Born
Matthew Ogston
Websiteogston.com

Matt Mahmood-Ogston (born 1978 or 1979) is a British LGBTQ+ activist, personal branding coach, and photographer. He is best known as the founder of the charity Naz and Matt Foundation, which was established to tackle issues relating to homophobia, religious intolerance, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals from religious backgrounds.[1]

Early life and education

Mahmood-Ogston grew up in South Yardley,[2] Birmingham, United Kingdom, with a strong passion for photography, design, and social justice. He pursued a career in web design and user experience consultancy before moving into professional photography and personal branding.[3]

Personal life

Ogston meet Dr. Nazim 'Naz' Mahmood (b. 1979 or 1980) in Birmingham in November 2001. The two began dating and lived in Moseley together, later moving to London. Ogston proposed to Mahmood in 2011. Mahmood Mahmood came out to his family during Eid celebrations in July 2014; he committed suicide two days later, on 30 July, after being told by his family to find a psychiatrist to cure his gay identity.[4] Mahmood's family prevented Ogston from attending the funeral.[5]

Ogston later changed his name to Mahmood-Ogston, although he and Nazim Mahmood had not been legally married at the time of his death.[4]

Matt Mahmood-Ogston resides in London. He dedicates his work to the memory of his late partner, Naz, and remains committed to helping LGBTQ+ individuals overcome challenges posed by cultural and religious intolerance.[2]

Activism

Naz and Matt Foundation

Mahmood-Ogston founded the Naz and Matt Foundation in 2014, following the death of his fiancé, Naz.[6] The foundation aims to challenge religious and cultural homophobia, raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues within conservative communities, and provide support to individuals who face discrimination because of their sexuality.[7]

Since its inception, the charity has conducted several high-profile awareness campaigns[8] and educational outreach programmes in schools,[9] universities, and community groups, and has garnered widespread recognition for its work on LGBTQ+ rights in the UK.[10] In 2021, Mahmood-Ogston penned a letter to religious leaders, asking that they work to improve families' relationships with their LGBTQ children.[11]

Mahmood-Ogston has appeared on various television programmes and in print media, including interviews with BBC,[12] Sky News,[13] ITV,[14] The Guardian,[1] and Channel 4.[15] His work has been highlighted for its emotional impact, as well as for its efforts to create societal change, especially within religious communities where LGBTQ+ acceptance is less common.[16]

Film

Mahmood-Ogston directed the documentary film My God, I'm Queer, which explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals born into Muslim families struggling with cultural and religious intolerance. It won the Asian Media Awards Best TV Programme of 2021[17] and was shortlisted for the Iris Prize.[18] It provides an in-depth perspective on the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in conservative communities, aiming to foster understanding and acceptance.[19]

Awards and recognition

  • 2017 Attitude Pride Award[20]
  • 2021 British LGBT Awards, Top 10 Outstanding Contributors to LGBT+ Life[21]
  • 2024 Camden Faith & Belief Awards ‘Outstanding Individual’ Award[22][23]

In art and media

Artist Lisa Bretherick told the story of Ogston and Mahmood's relationship for the 2016 exhibit The Unbreakable Rope.[5]

Mahmood-Ogston's story is also the basis of the 2017 song "Be The Man" by English folk music group The Young'uns.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Manzoor, Sarfraz (2015-03-21). "My boyfriend killed himself because his family couldn't accept that he was gay". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  2. ^ a b "Nazim Mahmood suicide: Partner's 150-mile walk in his memory". BBC News. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  3. ^ "About Matt Mahmood-Ogston". Matt Mahmood-Ogston. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Card, Kirsty (2019-07-21). "'My soulmate killed himself after family said he needed 'curing' of being gay'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  5. ^ a b Khan, Tabish (2016-06-05). "Review: What's It Like To Be Gay And Muslim? Artists Explore Sexuality And Islam". The Londonist.
  6. ^ "Matt Mahmood-Ogston London Friend". London Friend. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Support from the Naz and Matt Foundation". Naz and Matt Foundation. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  8. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-58499900
  9. ^ https://www.sec-ed.co.uk/content/best-practice/preventing-lgbtqplus-bullying-in-schools-five-evidence-based-tips/
  10. ^ "Naz Mahmood death: Support group for gay Asians created". BBC Sounds. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Plea to religious leaders follows fiancé's suicide". BBC News. 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  12. ^ "Gay Asian support group created". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  13. ^ "Asian And Gay: Doctor Was Driven To His Death". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  14. ^ "walk-in-honour-of-doctor-who-killed-himself-after-being-told-to-find-a-cure-for-being-gay". ITV. 2015-04-21.
  15. ^ "Iris Prize Best British Short films head to All 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  16. ^ a b "World on 3 - The Young'uns with the moving story of Matt Ogston in their song 'Be The Man' - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  17. ^ "'My God, I'm Queer' Wins Best Programme/Show at AMA 2021". Asian Media Awards. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  18. ^ "My God, I'm Queer". Iris Prize. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  19. ^ "My God, I'm Queer". Naz and Matt Foundation. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  20. ^ "Attitude Pride Award winner: Religious homophobia campaigner Matthew Naz Mahmood-Ogston". Attitude Magazine. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Outstanding Contributors To LGBT+ Life". British LGBT Awards. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Winners of first ever Camden Faith & Belief Awards announced". 2024-05-24.
  23. ^ "Pioneering a path to acceptance and understanding". Camden Council. Retrieved 3 November 2024.