My process of becoming conscious of myself was slow. There are cases when people feel stressed because of their identity, they get depressed. It wasn’t my story. Before I had any experience, I was already psychologically ready for it.

I only came out to my friends. It wasn't difficult. These people were very close to me, I knew they were tolerant, I assumed they would accept me, love me. It made me feel better. Hiding is always difficult. When you open up and they accept you, love you for who you are, it's so supportive.

I had a lot of support from my first boyfriend. He was older than me, a competent and wise man who helped me to open up, understand and accept myself. He did this very well – not straightforwardly, but indirectly, through recommending some books and films. Thanks to him I started to think about myself differently.

I love Islam; it is a pure, peaceful religion. I am a believer, but not conservatively religious. Religion doesn't come first, but it's important to me. It's about a person's spirituality. If a person has an inner faith, a tradition that they share, it helps them, it's like an inner core. Faith in Allah helps and supports me.

I don't go to mosques regularly, although I have been there a few times, that was a long time ago. I do not pray five times a day, but I turn to God internally, I have contact with him. I used to read Namaz until I was about twenty-one. Gradually I stopped, but not because of my sexual orientation.

It makes me sad and hurt that there are many homophobes and transphobes among religious Muslims. As far as I know, is it not clearly and precisely written anywhere that being an LGBT person is a bad thing. So I don't think there is no place for me in Islam. God created us this way. This situation is about different orientations sitting on a shelf and being able to choose something that is "better" or "worse". These are stereotypes and misconceptions of ill-informed people.

I accept myself as both a Muslim and a member of the LGBT community. In the beginning, of course, I had questions for myself, for my religion: What does it mean? Is it a sin? Is it allowed or not? We live in a country where the majority says it's a sin for a Muslim to be an LGBT person. Of course, it affects me. But I've been to a training session on this issue, I've read a lot, I've studied. I've already come to accept my own identity.

I am an LGBT person and I am unique.

I am a Tajik and I am proud of it.

I am an LGBT person and an activist, it is important for me to do something for my community. Please accept yourself for who you are, love yourself. No person or religion has the right to forbid you to be who you are, to love someone, to express yourself, to accept yourself. You can be a religious person, a Muslim, you can love, give love, and most importantly, be yourself and accept yourself.

I wish there were more events and programmes to inform, help and support LGBT people. I've been lucky because I haven't had any difficult mental states in the process of accepting myself, but for many people, it's a painful process. It would also be great to raise awareness among religious people about homosexuality and transness: I don't know how, but we need to make them understand that this [homo- and transphobia – editor’s note] is a misconception, a misconception that people are born different, it doesn't depend on religion or world-view. It would make it easier for everyone to live in peace.