Abdul is first generation American and grew up in the Bronx. His parents emigrated from Pakistan in the late 1970s. Abdul says he always knew he was gay but didn't know what to call it until he was a teenager. He came out to his friends at 17 when he was graduating from high school, and his friends were all incredibly supportive. However, Abdul is not out to his family. Although he has been living with his boyfriend for a long time, his parents have never visited his apartment in Brooklyn, nor have they met his partner. Abdul wishes he could come out to his parents, but Islamic cultural pressure and tradition prevent him from feeling comfortable to do so. Being gay is a huge part of Abdul's life, and he has found a place in the world where he feels himself.
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