2 June, 2025
Ubaid-ul Rehman is making a difference to people’s lives no matter what it takes.
The Goslings London Badminton Club member was recently honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the LGBTQI+ community and badminton.
It marked recognition of over 25 years of voluntary service both within his own club and that of the LGBTQI+ Muslim Group ‘Imaan’, which he helped co-found back in 1999.
Ubaid received his OBE from King Charles III himself at Windsor Castle in early April, and was overwhelmed with the recognition for his decades of service.
“I was completely chuffed and honoured to receive my OBE,” he said.
“I’ve been volunteering for over 25 years at different organisations and in different roles, and they’ve all been incredible.
“Every experience has always been about what can I do to give back to the community and make the world a better place for people.
“So it’s nice to be recognised for that.”
Ubaid has been part of Goslings London Badminton Club since 2005 and has gone from a social player to one of it’s most integral members.
From organising international and domestic tournaments with other LGBT+ clubs as part of the committee, to being elected as chair and driving accessibility and membership, every step has been about making Goslings feel like more than a badminton club.
“It was in 2005 when I first was taken to Goslings,” he said.
“I had never played badminton before but my first couple of games, I actually fell in love with it.
“Not just the physical aspect to it but the social element, because it opened up me up to a community of LGBT people who I had never met.
“Some of those friends I met that first evening I went are still my friends today.
“It opened me up to this whole new community and a brand new family that I never knew I wanted or needed.”
Before Ubaid had ever stepped foot on a badminton court, he was already creating safe spaces for LGBT+ identifying Muslims in the UK.
Ubaid is one of the founding members of Imaan, the UK’s leading LGBTQ Muslim charity, which was set up in the late 1990s.
The organisation has battled against adversity due to both race and sexuality over the decades but continues to stand strong as a welcoming community that has now spread all over the country.
“I went along to a meeting in 1998 with a bunch of other LGBT+ Muslims and that was the beginning on Imaan,” he said.
“Up until that point, I always assumed I was the only one, because there was no one that you could talk about your sexuality and feelings.
“We were quite anxious about it, but also really excited that we’re actually starting something that will have benefits to people at both that time and for future generations. We wanted to really open up the space so people could have conversations, bringing religion, culture and sexuality together.
“As time went on, then we then started doing more advocacy work for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, for freeing fleeing countries where being LGBTQ+ it’s punishable by death.”
Ubaid is no longer an active member of Imaan but continues to support from the side-lines, including attending a recent conference at Queen Mary’s University in London where he was overwhelmed to see so many young members standing up for what they believed in.
“Last year we had a conference and I went along for the first time in a long time,” he added.
“Back when we started Imaan, we were young, and we were anxious, and full of anxiety and fear.
“These young people were really empowered and ready to fight the world.
“Hearing from those participating as they thanked myself and other co founders, it was really heart warming.”
With a wealth of passion and experience on his side, Ubaid has sat on Badminton England’s EDI committee for the past three years, working to give equal opportunity to those who want to play the sport he loves.
Just one more step on his journey to help make the world a better place.
“All these different roles that I’ve done in the past have opened my eyes to all the different kind of discrimination and harassment that people go through,” he said.
“I feel that if there’s something that one person can do to just make a difference to one person’s life, it’s up to you try to make the world a better place.”
