Hijab Butch Blues: A Memoir

Lamya H. is the pseudonym of the author of Hijab Butch Blues. Based on the information found in the memoir, Lamya was born in southeast Asia, likely Pakistan or India. Around the age of five, she moved with her family to a “rich Arab country,” likely the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, because her father could earn more money there. At 18, Lamya moved to the United States to attend a “prestigious college” in New York state. Later, she attended graduate school in New York City. After graduate school, she met her partner, Olivia, or “Liv,” “a white girl from Vermont” (209). According to the author biography on her website, Lamya H. currently works as a writer and organizer in NYC, “creating spaces for LGBTQ+ Muslims, fighting Islamophobia, and abolishing prisons” (“Home.” Lamya H). Little else is known about her biographical information.

Hijab Book Blues gives insight into Lamya’s growth and maturity over the course of her life. However, some aspects of her personality remained consistent over time. As a child, Lamya was a “irascible tomboy” who preferred watching cricket with her male relatives over wearing makeup or getting dressed up with her female relatives.