'As a child in Bradford, I thought being queer was a white thing'

Article excerpt

Sid Akbar, a queer Pakistani-heritage performer from Bradford, has created a theatrical show exploring the intersection of his identity as a gay man and his family's cultural background. Growing up in the Yorkshire city, Akbar believed queerness was exclusively a white experience, a perception shaped by the limited visibility of LGBTQ+ people within his community. His work examines how marginalized identities can compound when someone occupies multiple underrepresented categories simultaneously. The show draws on his personal journey navigating family expectations, cultural traditions, and self-discovery. Akbar's theatrical project reflects broader conversations about representation and belonging within both LGBTQ+ spaces and communities of color.