Queer Habibi’s Story
When Queer Habibi arrived in Australia five years ago, he couldn’t imagine the life he has now…
Queer Habibi is a refugee, tradie and social media star from Sydney. He shares his story of how he got the help he needed to get protection in Australia.
When Queer Habibi arrived in Australia five years ago, he couldn’t imagine the life he has now.
He’d arrived in Sydney very much in the closet hoping just to improve his English skills.
A pivotal point came for him when he attended Mardi Gras as a spectator.
“I went to the Mardi Gras parade in 2020, still pretending to be a straight man,” he said.
“I saw that gay people have freedom and I thought it was beautiful living with human rights.
“Slowly I came out as a gay man at the age of 36. For my entire life before then I had always lived in the closet.”
Queer Habibi is from a conservative Muslim family and when his original visa expiration was coming up, he thought he would have to return to his home nation in South-East Asia.
However, a chance encounter saw him discover the services of Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) and that he was eligible for a protection visa.
“I went to say goodbye to my friend and he told me about RACS and that I may be able to stay in Australia,” Queer Habibi explains.
RACS is a nonprofit providing essential legal support to people who have fled persecution to find certainty and safety in Australia.
“In that difficult situation, RACS helped me a lot,” Queer Habibi explains.
“They interviewed me over the phone, wrote down my history and then RACS helped me with my case.”
How RACS can help
Queer Habibi’s lawyer Vicky Chen explained how they can help.
“RACS provides free and confidential legal advice and representation to people seeking asylum because of their sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and sex characteristics,” she said.
“We will listen to your story, explain the criteria for a protection visa and provide you with information on the process of applying for protection. In many instances, RACS can represent clients in their dealings before the Department of Home Affairs and other government agencies. The most important thing is to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
Queer Habibi’s journey demonstrates how life-changing receiving protection can be. It can allow someone to flourish, find love and be a voice for other members of the LGBTQIA+ community to find safety, acceptance and freedom.
Finding joy and safety
Joining our interview is Queer Habibi’s husband who has made a big difference in his life.
“We met on the dancefloor,” Habibi explains.
“It was a dance party called Thick ‘N’ Juicy, it’s like heaven to me and then I saw him.”
The pair locked eyes and have been together ever since.
They were engaged during WorldPride on the walk across the Harbour Bridge and then had a small ceremony later that year.
“We threw a big party but we still didn’t know whether we could stay here or not, so it was also like a farewell,” his husband explained.
Then one month later, RACS called with good news.
“I was at work and they called with good news and I just cried,” he said.
Queer Habibi had secured a protection visa meaning he could stay in Australia with his new husband.
“It always makes me emotional,” he said with tears in his eyes.
“It just changed my life, I can be myself now forever in Australia, build my future and my dreams here.”
Social media star
Something Queer Habibi has embraced here in Australia is social media.
He is across Instagram and TikTok with tens of thousands of followers under his handle @QueerHabibi
“Queer Habibi was born during WorldPride,” he said with delight.
“I just wanted to express myself with my cultural background and I love Ariana Grande, it’s a mix of the two.
“I’m a tradie by day, and Queer Habibi on the weekend.”
His content has inspired many people like him.
“I want to bring joy and inspire people with the same background as me,” he says.
“People reach out to me as saying thank you so much for representing us and you are brave.”
Queer Habibi needs to have courage at times as his content can go viral for all the wrong reasons.
If it reaches some nations or communities his comments are filled with vile homophobia.
Although he can filter out most, some nasty comments and threats still get through.
“I’ve learned by talking with other queer creators that I don’t need to read the comments or engage with haters.”
Art project
Queer Habibi’s content is making waves as an artist is due to paint a mural of him.
“This makes me so happy and yeah I cried when they asked,” he said.
Hsu-Ann Khoury from RACS explained what the project is about.
The idea is to create a public artwork celebrating the fact that queer people seeking asylum are welcome and can find safety in Australia,” she said.
“Queer Habibi is perfect for a mural because he’s so visually unique while also embodying many of the experiences common to LGBTQI+ refugees.”
There is just one problem – they need a wall for the wall to be painted on.
Queer Habibi is ready. Artist Sharon Billinge is ready. We just need a suitable wall,” Hsu-Anne said.
The team at RACS are looking for anyone within Sydney who are willing to provide a wall for the mural.
Hopes for the future
Now Queer Habibi has his protection visa, he can now look to the future in Australia.
“Because I am a refugee under the protection of Australia, I can study at TAFE, which I’m really excited about,” he explained.
“Now I can also leave Australia for the first time in years. My dream is to travel the world visiting countries that celebrate Pride Month.
“I can meet many other people like me and together we can inspire others to live freely.”
“How Australia gave Queer Habibi a free and fierce new life” was written by Dale Roberts and originally published in QNews. It has been reproduced here with permission.
Got space for a mural, or know someone who does? Let us know and help bring Queer Habibi’s refugee story to a wall near you!