Twenty-four-year-old Jahed Choudhury and 19-year-old Sean Rogan tied the knot in Walsall registry office in traditional Muslim attire.
The pair, who have been together for two years, first met when Choudhury was crying on a bench in Darlaston.
Choudhury revealed he had always felt like an outcast in his community, but is now determined to show the world it is possible to be gay and Muslim.
He told Express and Star: ‘I’d not long overdosed and I was crying on a bench and Sean came over and asked if I was okay.
He said he had “stood out like a sore thumb” previously, with bullies spitting on him and even emptying rubbish over him.
Struggling with his identity, he even tried to have a girlfriend, change his social circle, take medication and even go on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh.
Mr Choudhury’s lowest point was when he tried to take his own life – but it was then that he met Sean.
The 24-year-old Choudhury continued:
“This is about showing people I don’t care, my family doesn’t want to come on the day, they just don’t want to see it, it’s too embarrassing for them.“They think it’s a disease and can be cured, some of my family still call it a phase.“I want to say to all people going through the same thing that it’s OK – we’re going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.”
Although his family were’t present for the ceremony, Choudhury believes the wedding is significant progress for the Muslim and LGBT communities alike.
He added: “My family doesn’t want to come on the day, they just don’t want to see it, it’s too embarrassing for them.”
Choudhury says that some of his family members dismiss his sexuality and happy relationship with Sean as a ‘disease’ or a phase.
He added: “I want to say to all people going through the same thing that’s it’s okay – we’re going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim.”
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