National Arab American Heritage Month: Dua Saleh and the Power of Living Openly

This National Arab American Heritage Month, PFLAG Los Angeles honors Dua Saleh (they/them), a Sudanese-American nonbinary musician and actor whose work explores queer identity, belonging, and self-expression.

Born in Kassala, Sudan, Saleh came to the United States as a child and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where they began writing poetry and later found their voice in music. Their genre-blending sound and deeply personal lyrics have earned them critical acclaim and a growing audience.

Saleh is widely known for their role as Cal Bowman in Netflix's Sex Education, a nonbinary student navigating identity and community. The role brought their visibility to a global audience and opened conversations about gender identity that extend far beyond the screen.

Their work sits at the intersection of Arab American identity, queerness, and artistry -- a combination that remains underrepresented in mainstream culture. By living and creating openly, Saleh has become a meaningful presence for LGBTQ+ people who rarely see themselves reflected in popular media.

At PFLAG Los Angeles, we believe that visibility matters. When people see themselves represented honestly and fully, it affirms that they belong -- and that they are not alone.