إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
To God we belong and to Him we return.
The National LGBTQ Task Force community grieves with the LGBTQ+ and progressive Muslim communities after Imam Daayiee Abdullah, the first openly gay imam in the United States, passed away on August 3, 2025, in Bogotá, Colombia, at the age of 71. As former public interest lawyer, a scholar, and a faith leader, Imam Daayiee set a positive example for the work that paved the way for conversations and spaces of inclusion that welcomed people to be who they are without denying or sacrificing any part of their identities or beliefs.
As founder and Executive Director of MECCA Institute (Muslim Education Center for Creative Academics), a Muslim think tank and online school that promoted “expanding Progressive Islam through education and research,” he worked to create spaces that affirmed and supported LGBTQ+ people around the world. Imam Daayiee personified the ideals of wisdom and courage in the work of justice and made it clear that nothing would change that:
“You don’t have to agree with me to accept me as a human being. My standard’s always been and always will be that of human rights,” he said in an interview with CBC in 2015. “The laws of Islam should mirror the United Nations declaration of human rights; that’s the highest standard of law that we have today.”
At the Task Force, Imam Daayiee held a special place in the heart of staff, especially among our Faith Work Directors past and present. Here are reflections made by previous and current Faith Work Directors who got to know and love Imam Daayiee:
“Imam Daayiee Abdullah was, from almost the very beginning, an important part of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable. During my time as Faith Work Director of the Task Force, Imam Daayiee was always there to collaborate– which we did often on the Practice Spirit, Do Justice portion of Creating Change; to dream– which we did often about the shape and contour of genuine multifaith relationships, dialogue, and learning; to be present and bear witness to each other’s work- which we did through emails and phone calls that persisted after our formal collegial relationship was over. In all of it, Imam Daayiee was always deeply kind, intellectually brilliant, and persistently faithful. I will miss my colleague and friend. I pray his powerful legacy will continue to shape and guide our shared work.”
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel (she/her), former Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, Pastor for Justice Ministries and Director of the Center for Sustainable Justice at Lyndale UCC
“Imam Daayiee was one of the first leaders I met when I became Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, and from that first encounter, I knew I was in the presence of someone extraordinary. Imam showed us that the heart of true leadership is leading with love—and he loved us deeply. He was the embodiment of a radical love ethic, bringing it to every conversation, every gathering, every person he encountered. He was always just a phone call away, showing up quickly and without hesitation about anything the community needed. From the Faith and Family Power Summit in Utah—where he stood with courage and grace at the media press conference—to the countless conversations we shared on the intersection of faith, race, and sexuality, his brilliance, joy, and compassion were unshakable. He had that rare ability to make you feel both fully seen and deeply challenged to live in your best self. His commitment to justice was never abstract—it was lived, in his smile, his wisdom, and the fearless way he embraced the fullness of who he was. I will miss his physical presence, but I will carry his love, his laughter, and his lessons with me always. The work is better because he was here. We are better because he loved us.”
Rodney McKenzie, Jr., former Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force
“Imam Daayiee was such an inspiration for me when I first learned about him and the work that he was doing. As someone who was still exploring the possibilities of how interfaith work for queer/trans advocacy could come together, he was one of the first people to appear in my research. From learning about him, to connecting with him on Facebook, to then discovering the vast possibilities of the fullness of your faith founded on accepting entirely who you are, Imam Daayiee was one of many guides who reminded me that the pillar of faith must work with the pillar of gender/sexuality to maintain a strong foundation for your entire self. May his memory forever be a blessing and may his legacy live on through the work of his loved ones, his initiatives, and his spirit for justice.”
Tahil Sharma, Faith Work Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force
His gentle nature, balanced with his strong commitment to solidarity, made him the leader he was meant to be. Because of this, the National LGBTQ Task Force awarded him the Faith Award at the 2025 Creating Change conference in Las Vegas, NV for his advocacy efforts. He left behind a legacy of last impact that continues to exist through the work of the MECCA Institute and beyond.
We invite friends to offer their personal condolences however they find possible and invite you to contribute to the following fundraisers for his funeral costs and to support the ongoing work of the MECCA Institute:
