A non-binary Scottish teen has opened up on being told they were 'disgusting' and 'going to hell' after coming out to their strict religious family.
Mahadeeha Shakoor, 19, grew up in the Muslim faith and said they first began to struggle with their gender as a young child.
After years of hiding their true self, the student, who was born female, came out as gay to their friends at the age of 14.But it took a further four years before Mahadeeha, from Glasgow, realised they were non-binary and eventually disclosed their identity to their family when they were 18.Mahadeeha has now bravely told how the reaction from one relative left them feeling 'unsafe' and 'scared' as they were subjected to horrific emotional abuse.Speaking to the Record, they said: "Some of my relatives have always been very openly homophobic and transphobic throughout my childhood."They would talk about how disgusting being gay is and how it is a terrible sin.
That obviously made me feel really uncomfortable and awkward."On one occasion, when Mahadeeha was 15, a relative followed them in a car while they were out with a trans friend they were dating at the time.Mahadeeha continued: “When they thought we kissed, they drove up and started yelling abuse at me.
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