Ifti Nasim on War & Civil Liberties

Until his death in 2011, Ifti Nasim was perhaps the most prominent political and cultural voice in Chicago’s vibrant South Asian community.

A Pakistani-American who left his native country in the 1960s to escape homophobia and an arranged marriage, Nasim spoke out early and often against war and racism promoted by his adopted country, and homophobia promoted by religious mis-leaders.

His first claim to fame was as the world’s first openly gay, Urdu language published poet, and was in constant demand to appear poetry gatherings around the world.  He hosted the weekly Sargam radio program on WSBC-AM and was Midwest Editor of the Weekly News Pakistan.

Originally broadcast October 10, 2008