Last week, News 1130 contacted Qmunity executive director Dara Parker about an advertisement for WhyIslam.org, a program run by the Islamic Circle of North America based in Queens, New York, displayed on a Pattison Outdoor digital billboard at International Village mall in Vancouver.

The ad stated "Prophet Muhammed", "Peace be upon him", and "A mercy to mankind" with "WhyIslam.org" at the bottom. The ad, reported on August 3 by News 1130 (which stated there were several around the city), is not currently on display. 

While Parker had no concerns about the message on the ad itself, a webpage at the WhyIslam.org website is entitled "An Islamic perspective on sexual deviation", with the subhead "Satisfying the sexual urge in a healthy manner". A number of topics are listed on the webpage, including sexual relations outside marriage, pornography, celibacy, polygamy, and homosexuality.

The section on homosexuality acknowledges arguments have been made that genetic factors predispose individuals to same-sex attractions. However, the site also states that according to Islamic beliefs, "such tendencies need to be kept under check and can be overcome". It also states that heterosexuality is the norm, and opposite-sex marriage is the only way the human race can be propagated and to raise healthy children.

It states that gay marriage is a "modern aberration" that "shows a lack of understanding about the concept of marriage".

Parker expressed concerns about the statements but was quick to clarify that her concerns were not about religion but about homophobic messages. 

"There are lots of Islamic communities that embrace LGBTQ identities and it's a false dichotomy to understand Muslims as being separate from queer or trans because we know there are lots of folks in communities of faith who identify as both religious and queer," she said in an interview with the Georgia Straight by phone. "I wouldn't want to set up a false pitting of religion or Islam versus queer because that's wrong and I would fear that it would promote racism within the community, which is the ugly side of this conversation."

While she condemns what was written on website about homosexuality, she also sees this as an opportunity to educate people.

"That kind of messaging is incredibly damaging to our community and especially damaging to those exact people I was referencing who identify as both Muslim and queer or trans," she said. "To hear your own community say that who you are, how you are born, is wrong, and you're going against the tenets of your faith is just so incredibly dangerous and we know that the impact of that is lower health outcomes, there's huge risk for social isolation and self-harm and self-medication in the form of addiction."

Imtiaz Popat, founder and coordinator of the local queer Muslim group Salaam Vancouver, said by phone that he's glad Qmunity is raising concerns but he thinks the issue is larger than this one particular advertiser.

He wants to know what Pattison Outdoor's policy is about religious ads in general and if they check the background of what the website content is of their advertisers.

"If they're going to do that for WhyIslam, are they going to do that for other Christian groups that have homophobic content?" he said. "So for me, it's a larger policy issue. The fact that this is being questioned, sure. But are you picking on Muslim groups only? Is this Islamophobia?"

He did contact the Pattison Group, but had not heard back from them. He had not been in touch with Qmunity about his concerns. WhyIslam.com and the Pattison Outdoor have not responded to interview requests submitted by the Georgia Straight.

Popat wanted to clarify that this group is not representative of all Muslims.

"Not all Muslim groups subscribe to this type of attitude, and not all Christian groups subscribe to this type of attitude but some Christian groups do. I'm just saying this is not an issue of Islam per se and nor should it be….It is problematic that this group that says, 'My Islam is representative of all Muslim groups'—it's definitely not."

Parker pointed out that Qmunity has spoken out against numerous other groups that have expressed discrmination LGBT people, including the Westboro Baptist Church and the Pope speaking out against same-sex marriage.

Qmunity has also been granted official intervener status in the B.C. Supreme Court case of Trinity Western University versus the Law Society of B.C.

Langley's Trinity Western University, which is a faith-based university, launched legal action against the law society for reversing accreditation of its law school. The Christian law school has been the focus of debate due to its covenant which requires students to abstain from sex outside of an opposite-sex marriage.

"We're not against a Christian university," Parker said. "We're against any university that would have any kind of covenant that would discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

Qmunity itself became the target of homophobic vandalism when graffiti was discovered written by its entrance on August 10.