I can’t remember exactly  how  I  stumbled upon  the Zakar  Twins,  but I found them on Instagram  and  have been a loyal follower, watching their careers  soar  for over  1  year  now! Their  best-selling book  “Pray The Gay Away” came  out  in the Fall of 2017. That’s  probably about the time I first discovered them.

These young gay models, writers, entrepreneurs, leaders in the LGBTQ+ community, and lovable goofballs Michael and Zach Zakar are known not only for their identical good looks but for trailblazing a path forward for queer people who come from Near and Middle Eastern cultures. As smart as they are funny, their memoir last year is  a dual-account tragicomedy about  growing up with deeply religious Iraqi immigrant parents.

“Mom knows.” A simple text that would change two twin brothers’ lives forever. Coming out is hard. The struggle is ongoing, a daily part of life whether to a new friend, a co-worker, or most importantly yourself. Pray the Gay Away chronicles Michael and Zach as they face awkward sexual encounters, drug-fueled escapades, coming out to each other, and their biggest foe – Mom, a woman who not only gave birth to what she calls one regret – but two.

The memoir hilariously and poignantly explores what it’s like growing up as gay, Iraqi twins in modern America. Pray the Gay Away was inspired the night Mom snuck into their bedroom and force fed them “holy grapes,” determined to “de-gay” them.  She threw Holy Water on them as well! 

The Zakar Twins are new voices speaking out against generations, particularly within the Iraqi culture, who look down on being gay. This book is not only for the LBGTQ community, but for young adults, looking to achieve normalcy.

“The book started kind of as a hateful thing. We wrote it because we were angry that our Mom reacted in such a demeaning way,” Zach said. “Then, over time, the project, it really resulted in kind of a beautiful thing. We were growing with the book, it was growing with us.”

Currently  they are on tour  with  Drag Queen Christmas – The Naughty Tour!  37 cities now through Dec 29th! Presented by Murray & Peter.  They will be heading  South and West  in the coming weeks. Get specific city and  tour info at www.DragFans.com. 

Their Mom  has come a long way to acceptance and actually  attended  the show  in Detroit! Her first drag show ever!

I am told that  the producers, Murray and Peter  are helping to bring their book  to Off Broadway, hopefully  in time  for  Pride  2019!

Recently the brothers  relased a  calendar for 2019.  Defiance: taking a stance on changing the world’s conservative view on what it means to be gay in the Middle Eastern world. Shot by Dexter Brown.

“Everyone has their own unique story. Fortunately for us, we just wrote ours down,” Zach said with a laugh. “The book is done, but it’s not finished. We’re writing two more books about different things.”

Buy  the BOOK  and  CALENDAR   Here.

Get to know Michael and Zach  with their great  YouTube  videos!

ZT  on Instagram

ZT  on Facebook

ZT  on Twitter

ZT  My  Twin Chat App –  a  way to communicate  with  others  who might be struggling with  coming out or just needing someone to talk to.  Many people coming out usually feel like they are the only one. So this app is a support system for those scared to talk to a stranger or a close friend.

“You cannot forget the bigger picture. It feels like life is caving in to a lot of people when it first happens. I think that’s one of the scariest things. Because all I was worried about, was when you grow up, there’s so much involved in the bigger picture,” Michael said. “That’s what I tell people, just realize there is light at the end of the tunnel even if it feels almost impossible.”