One could be forgiven for thinking that barrister Mohsin Zaidi’s A Dutiful Boy: A Memoir of a Gay Muslim’s Journey to Acceptance would be an all-too-familiar identity narrative of those whose parents are South Asian immigrants in the United Kingdom, and typically depicting their family and community denying them the agency to realise their true selves.
However, it soon becomes abundantly clear that it is anything but that. Zaidi’s voice is pertinent as he writes about issues of identity, race, sexuality, faith, class, education and mental health. His story is one that will help others such as him confront their own personal narratives and allow them to feel empowered enough to come out and face the world. His dedication says it all: “And to every young person struggling with their identity. You are not alone.”