Nadia Hussain Speaks Out on Queerness in Pakistani Society

When Nadia Hussain speaks, people listen, even when her words challenge societal taboos.

A household name in Pakistan, known for her modelling, acting, and sharp entrepreneurial acumen, Nadia has never been one to hide behind polite silence. Whether defending her family amidst recent personal controversy or addressing deeply polarizing issues, she speaks with the kind of fearless clarity that’s rare in mainstream media. And her latest appearance on the podcast proved no different.

The topic? Queerness is a subject often reduced to whispers, mockery, or outright denial in Pakistan’s public discourse.

When asked if homosexuality exists within the world of fashion and showbiz, Nadia didn’t flinch. “Of course it does,” she said, “but singling out one industry is unfair and intellectually dishonest.”

She was quick to challenge the assumption that queerness or cases of same-sex behavior are a product of the entertainment industry alone. “Why are we only asking this about fashion or showbiz?” she posed. “Are we willing to talk about what happens in religious seminaries? In our villages? Or even in our so-called ‘moral’ households?”

Nadia referenced a moment involving Dr. Zakir Naik, a well-known Islamic scholar, where a girl once raised this question, pointing to such incidents in religious spaces. According to Nadia, his answer sidestepped the reality, highlighting how this uncomfortable truth is often brushed under the rug.

But perhaps the most striking part of her comments was her reference to Pakistan’s Northern Areas, often romanticised for their beauty, but rarely scrutinised socially. Nadia revealed that for years she has heard stories of same-sex abuse and behaviour from that region. “These things happen there too, and no one wants to talk about it,” she stated. “So why the selective outrage when it happens in media or fashion?”

“People need to stop being judgmental and start understanding the bigger picture. Human behaviour, identity, and struggle aren’t boxed into just one profession or place. We need to acknowledge that.”

In a country where even acknowledging LGBTQ+ existence is considered controversial, Nadia Hussain’s unfiltered take shifts the lens away from one community and placing responsibility on the entire society, she invited Pakistanis to confront their own contradictions.

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