Australia’s first LGBT-friendly mosque is set to be launched by openly gay imam Nur Warsame.

According to The Independent, the mosque will open within a year and aims to help gay Muslims who have "nowhere to turn."

A building in Melbourne will be converted into a "safe house" for the Muslim LGBT community.

Warsame, who has been an imam since 2001, told the Independent, "I have been dealing with young people who have been excommunicated from their families.

"That is when you have a problem."

"We have had some support from the state government but bureaucracy and intentions are never the same. But I am optimistic, I hope to have it achieved this year."