Wikipedia

LGBTQ culture in India

India has a long and ancient tradition of culture associated with the LGBTQ community, with many aspects that differ markedly from modern liberal western culture.[2]

Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai with Gopi Shankar Madurai and Anjali Gopalan.[1]
Unofficial pride flag representing the LGBT community of India

India's LGBTQ culture has recently progressed in its cities due to the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community in urban India in the 21st century.

Sexuality in pre-modern India

edit

Homosexuality has been referenced in numerous artworks and literary works throughout the subcontinent since ancient times. Early neutral or positive references to homosexuality and transsexuality include medical journals such as the Nāradasmṛti and moral legal codes such as the Pali Cannon.[3][4] Apart from the north western fringes of the Indian subcontinent where Zostaraianism and Islam took ahold from the BCE, homophobia was slowly introduced to the subcontinent during the medieval period from the west through Islamic empires and encompassed the subconitnent with the advent colonialism and the British Raj.[5][6][7][8][9]

Throughout Hindu and Vedic texts there are many descriptions of saints, demigods, and even the Supreme Lord transcending gender norms and manifesting multiple combinations of sex and gender.[10] Apart from male and female, there are more than 20 types of genders, such as trans woman, trans men, androgynous and pangender etc.[citation needed] Transpeople were accepted in ancient India and referred to by terms like "tritya prakriti", "kliba" and "napunsaka".[11] Ancient writings in both Buddhist and Hindu texts found throughout South Asia and East Asia refer to two types of tritiya-prakriti (literally third gender): Narshanda are male to female transgenders; Narishanda are female to male transgenders.[citation needed]

"Hindu society had a clear cut idea of all these people in the past. Now that we have put them under one label 'LGBT', there is lot more confusion and other identities have got hidden."[12]

— Gopi Shankar Madurai at National Queer Conference 2013[13]

Alka Pande says that alternate sexuality was an integral part of ancient India and homosexuality was considered to be a form of the sacred, drawing upon the examples of the hermaphrodite Shikhandi and Arjuna who became a eunuch. Ruth Vanita argues that ancient India was relatively tolerant and views on it were ambiguous, from acceptance to rejection.[14]

Some Hindu texts mention homosexuality and support them. The Kamasutra mentions homosexuality as a type of sexual pleasure. There are also legends of Hindu gods change gender or are hermaphrodites and engage in relations that would be considered homoerotic in the other case.[15] Though, it also forbids the educated Brahmins, bureaucrats and wisemen from practicing Auparishtaka or oral sex.[16] Homosexuality was also practiced in the royal families especially with servants.[17] Kamasutra also mentions the "svairini" who used to live by herself or with another woman.[18] The king Bhagiratha is described as being born of sexual union of two queens of the king Dilip, however there is also a patriarchal background represented as the king left no heir and his younger wife took on the role of a man.[19]

Ayoni or non-vaginal sex of all types are punishable in the Arthashastra. Homosexual acts are however treated as a smaller offence punishable by a fine while unlawful heterosexual sex have much harsher punishment. The Dharmsastras especially the later ones prescribed against non-vaginal sex like the Vashistha Dharmasutra. The Yājñavalkya Smṛti prescribes fines for such acts including those with other men. Manusmriti prescribes light punishments for such acts.[20][21] Vanita states that the verses about punishment for a sex between female and a maiden is due to its strong emphasis on a maiden's sexual purity.[22]

  •  
    Erotic sculptures of two men (centre) at the Khajuraho temples.
  •  
    Ardhanariswara from Gangaikondacholapuram
  •  
    Two women using carrots as dildos, 20th century gouache painting.

Media representation

edit

Social media

edit

Urban centers are important hubs of the LGBTQ+ movement.[23] In India, city hubs have helped the community gained visibility since the 1970s. Since the early 2000s, social media and online venues have played a critical role in strengthening LGBTQ+ communities and identities in these cities.[23]

The internet has created new spaces for social interaction and community formation.[24] Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have been used to create pages and posts that increase queer awareness and visibility in India.[24] Some examples are Instagram profiles "Gaysifamily", "nazariyalgbt", and "lgbthistoryindia". The Gaysifamily website describes their mission "to provide a voice and a safe space to Desis from the South Asian subcontinent that identify as LGBTQ+".[25] They sell and share stickers, artwork, personal stories and zines made by queer Indians.

Social media platforms are also important for the development of intimate relationships between queer people in India.[24]

Even before social media became a platform for queer visibility, the internet created possibilities for communication and community building in the LGBTQ+ community. Khush-list, the first mailing list for LGBT South Asians, predominantly Indians in metropolitan cities and those living abroad, was established in 1993. In 1999, LGBT-India was established on egroups, and later transitioned to yahoogroups. Such mailing lists, established well before the advent of social networking sites, continue to remain the mainstay for discussion among middle-class, English-speaking Indians, and include LGBT-India, GayBombay, Good As You (Bangalore), Pratibimb (Hyderabad), and Movenpick/Orinam (Chennai). GayBombay.org (established in late 1998) and Orinam.net (established in 2006) are among the oldest websites that function as online resources catering to a local (Mumbai and Chennai, respectively) and national readership. Dating websites provide an alternative way for meeting people; online communities also offer a safe and convenient environment for meeting gays in India.[26] Online magazines like Pink Pages and Gaylaxy also publish regular issues.

Radio

edit
 
Delhi Queer Pride poster

On 11 September 2013, India's first Queer Radio channel, Qradio - Out and Proud, completely dedicated to LGBT audience was launched . With variety of talk shows, music, debates etc., the channel now runs 24 hours a day[27][28]

In February 2014, "Wonderful Things Happen" was founded with the objective to serve the Indian lesbian/bi women community.

Film and Television Depictions

edit

Though Bollywood has gay and transsexual characters, they have been primarily ridiculed or abused. There are few positive portrayals of late like Onir's My Brother Nikhil, Reema Kagti's Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., and Parvati Balagopalan's Rules: Pyaar Ka Superhit Formula but they have been sporadic and not mainstream. Shelly Chopra Dhar's Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga was perhaps the first mainstream explicitly lesbian romance in Bollywood history after Fire (1997). There also been a few independent films that deal with homosexuality like Sridhar Rangayan's Gulabi Aaina – The Pink Mirror, Girlfriend, Yours Emotionally, 68 Pages, Sudhanshu Saria's Loev (2015) and Ashish Sawhney's Happy Hookers. The first Indian film to deal openly with homosexual relations was Fire by Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta. With its 1997 release in India, it stirred up a heated controversy throughout the country.

In 2004 The Journey Malayalam feature film written, directed and produced by Ligy J. Pullappally, inspired both by her short film Uli and a true story of two lesbian lovers in the South Indian state of Kerala was released. Fire is explicit in stating that the main characters enter their relationship due to the failure of their heterosexual marriages but The Journey is a film about two lesbians who fall in love with each other.

Recently, Bollywood has portrayed homosexual relationships in a better light, such as in Dostana, Men Not Allowed and Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Badhaai Do. Actors of Indian descent have played homosexual roles in foreign movies. Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth played gay roles opposite each other in Shamim Sarif's I Can't Think Straight and The World Unseen. Jimi Mistry played a man trying to come out to his mother in Ian Iqbal Rashid's Touch of Pink.

In 2010, a Tamil film Goa, dealt with gay couples, their love and romance. In 2016, Aligarh (2016 film), was released centering on the life of a gay professor who was accused of homosexuality. The release of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga in 2019 was a landmark in LGBT representation in media. The character of Sweety played by actress Sonam Kapoor is a lesbian and is shown to be in a relationship with Kuhu (played by Regina Cassandra). The film mainly focuses on coming out to an Indian conservative family and throws light on the struggles of a young gay teenager and the insecurities they carry well into adulthood.

Indian television has also begun to depict gay characters. In 2011, the popular soap opera "Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak?" ( English: Honour: But at What Cost?) featured a plotline involving a gay couple, and was among a handful of television shows including gay characters.[29]

Portrayal of Homosexuality in Bollywood and Indian Cinema

edit

Bollywood and Indian cinema are not new in portraying homosexual characters on the screen; this is often done in satirical, comical, or stereotypical ways[citation needed]. Many contemporary Bollywood films, such as Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dostana, Kapoor And Sons, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, Badhaai Do and Aligarh, to name a few, either have homosexual characters or portrayals of homosexual relationships.[30][31] Going back to the 90's, homosexuality has been portrayed in cinema. Fire is one of the prominent examples of it.

Some critics argue that same-sex friendship within Bollywood movies is portrayed for a "gay viewership".The use of terms such as "yaar" (friend/lover) can be seen as a way to deter from using the language of "homosexuality" or "gayness".[32]

In recent movies, there has been a move away from the portrayal of homosexuality in a satirical and comedic way, and instead of showing a more sensitive, and empathic representation of the struggles that the community has to face. Aligarh and Kapoor And Sons are two of the more recent blockbuster Bollywood movies, both released in 2016, that have made an impact on the portrayal of homosexual men in Indian media. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga has shown that there are major strides taken in the positive portrayal of homosexuality in cinema. These movies are turning a new page for the role of homosexuality in Bollywood by challenging the previous stereotypical roles portrayed on screen. This is achieved by portraying homosexuality in a new, more truthful and complex light than has been done previously.[30] Manipuri actor and filmmaker Priyakanta Laishram's 2022 movie ONENESS is the first gay-themed movie of Manipur, Northeast India.[33]

Indian Queer Film Festivals

edit

Other than specific Bollywood films that showcase homosexual characters or relationships, Indian Cinema in general has been branching out; one way is through queer film festivals that are held in India.

KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is one way through which film is urging for change in the way that the Indian community views homosexuality. The festival includes films from around the world, including Indian queer films.[34]

Bangalore Queer Film Festival is another film festival that has been running since 2008. The festival showcases both Indian and international films. The festival also seeks to voice concerns and issues that the LGBT community faces. In 2017, the festival featured 55 films from 21 countries.[35]

Chennai International Queer Film Festival, also known as Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival, is a three-day event that usually takes places on the last weekend of July. It main organisers are Orinam in partnership with Goethe-Institut, Chennai along with volunteers from various community groups and NGOs, including Nirangal, East-West Center for Counselling, RIOV, and SAATHII. They screen short films as well as Feature-length films from all over the world. The last day is usually performances along with a panel discussion, usually to discuss and bring out the challenges faced by community members.[36] In 2014, the event had a photography exhibition, featuring queer/trans photography Shilpa Raj.[37]

Calcutta International LGBT Film & Video Festival, also known as DIALOGUES: Calcutta International LGBT Film & Video Festival, was first launched in 2007.[38] It's a three-day festival that happens in the November each year. This Film Festival was started by 'Sappho For Equality' and 'Pratyay Gender Trust', along with Goethe-Institut /Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata.[39]

Delhi International Queer Theater and Film Festival is organised in Delhi by Harmless Hugs. There has been three consistent editions of this festival since 2015.

Celebrity Support to Decriminalize Homosexuality

edit

Celebrities, represented in the general Indian media, have voiced their opinions and have advocated for the LGBTQ community in the country.

After the 2013 Supreme Court Decision to reinstate S.377, the court agreed to refer the decision to a five-judge constitutional bench based on a curative petition. Many celebrities, have voiced their support for the curative petition and the decriminalization of homosexuality, by repealing S.377. A news article by Akshay Kaushal in the Hindustan Times (3 February 2016), outlines some of these public comments; this includes: Onir, one of the few openly gay film directors who stated, "Now hopefully the five-judge constitution bench will take the decision in our favour. And this law should have been scrapped the day the Britishers left India. So hopefully, the 2009 verdict of the Delhi Court, that decriminalized gay sex among consenting adults, will be back soon." Delhi-based fashion designer, who married his partner Rahul Arora stated, "I am hopeful and positive that the five-judge constitution bench will scrap section 377 and make this country a better place for us to live". National Award-winning filmmaker Apurva Asrani, who wrote the film Aligarh, when referring to the five-judge constitutional bench stated, "the Supreme Court has allowed itself a chance to redeem itself from a blemish on its otherwise spotless image." "This (homosexuality) has been accepted even in our Hindu scriptures. I stand by my gay friends" said Actor Raveena Tandon. "Today’s decision is a great step. However, I think a disparity that can easily be addressed by amending the Indian Penal Code shouldn’t have to be a 15-year-long struggle" said actor and gay rights activist Celina Jaitley.[40]

Along with the curative petition, submitted by NGOs, to the Supreme Court of India, leading to the five-judge constitutional bench to re-consider the repeal of section 377, a petition was filed by five gay celebrities.

The petition was covered by various news articles, including The Times of India, stating, "The petitioners are lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBT) citizens of India whose rights to sexuality, sexual autonomy, choice of sexual partner, life, privacy, dignity and equality, along with the other fundamental rights guaranteed under Part-III of Constitution, are violated by Section 377." This is the first time those that are directly effected by the 2013 decision have addressed the court in his manner. The petitioners are, NS Johar (dancer), Sunil Mehra (journalist), Ritu Dalmia (chef), Aman Nath (hotelier), and Ayesha Kapoor (business executive).The petition was not reviewed or added by the Supreme Court; stating that there are already petitions of the same nature that the court is reviewing at the moment, and advised the celebrities to wait until the decision is out before further pursuing this issue.[41]

In 2019, Nartaki Natraj became the first trans person to receive the prestigious Padma Shri.[42]

Events

edit
 
Gay Pride March in Bangalore (2013)

While the discussion on homosexuality is happening in India, the below pride parades have been established in various major cities of India:

A tradition in Indian pride parades is the wearing of colorful masks for the partial purpose of hiding the wearers' identities from public view and avoiding altercations with family members. This is expected to change as less reprisals are feared from the general public, as shown with the inaugural Pune Pride Parade in December 2011, which required participants to dress professionally and avoid wearing masks or colorful makeup.

Participants in the parades hail from various indigenous gender and sexual minority groups and infuse the largely-Western-derived aesthetic of pride with local and national cultural trappings. Western and international tourists also participate in pride celebrations in India.

The Free Hugs Campaigning conducted in Kochi (Ernakulam)[59] and TVM in Kerala.

In Nagpur, Maharashtra, an annual LGBT Pride Carnival is conducted as a part of Pride Month celebrations, since 2018[60][61]

Since 2012, 2 July has been celebrated as the Indian Coming Out Day to mark the 2009 Naz Foundation v. Govt. of NCT of Delhi judgement that decriminalisaed homosexual sexual activity.[62][63][64]

Groups and NGOs

edit

Groups of various kinds and NGOs (non-governmental organizations also known as non-profit organizations) have long been a bedrock for queer and lgbtqia+ culture in India. Queer/lgbtqia+ groups in India come in many forms and operate under various organizational structures: some are social and/or support groups with several regulars who act as conveners and may help provide structure by, for example, setting conversation topics for each week's meeting; other groups identify specifically as "collectives" perhaps to reflect certain aspects of their organization or particular socio-political commitments such as to shared work; still other groups are more freewheeling, and, while they congregate under a group name, do not seem to have a designated leader, though there are members who are "moderators" of the group's Facebook group. The language that groups and individual members use to talk about and label genders and sexualities also varies. Some prefer lgbt, lgbtqia+, or a similar acronym, while others prefer queer, which some see as linked to a politics of intersectionality and/or inclusion, and some use lgbtqia+ and queer interchangeably.[65] To acknowledge each position, this section uses both simultaneously, joined by either "and" or a slash. When it is clear that a group or individual prefers a specific term, that language will be used.

Such groups and NGO spaces provided—and still provide—indispensable social spaces for queer/lgbtqia+ people, perhaps because, at least until quite recently, other publicly accessible social or meeting spaces geared towards queer/lgbtqia+ people (such as bars) did not exist.[66] Some bars and cafes are more frequently known to be "queer friendly" rather than catering specifically—if not almost exclusively—to queer/lgbtqia+ people in the way that gay bars are in some other countries;[67] several such examples are Kitty Su, the LaLit hotel chain's swanky night club chain, and Q Café in New Delhi, which recently closed down in 2019.[68]

Some queer/lgbtqia+ groups follow a nomadic style, meeting periodically at different coffee shops, restaurants, book shops, and similar public areas.[69] Others have a fixed meeting spot—often the offices of an NGO.[69]

Public visibility and understanding of queerness and lgbtqia+ experiences is increasing rapidly in India—particularly during and after the more recent Delhi High Court (2009) and India Supreme Court rulings (2013 and 2018) that toggled back and forth the legality of IPC (Indian Penal Code) section 377.[70] The Supreme Court's final ruling, in September 2018, read down section 377 to legalize, between consenting adults, what is generally referred to as "homosexual sex"—although the precise wording of section 377 outlawed "anal intercourse against the order of nature." Nonetheless, queer and lgbtqia+ groups remain an indispensable central axis of queer sociality—alongside several secret and/or private Facebook groups, some of which correspond to social and support groups that periodically meet in the physical world (or IRL—in real life—to use internet terminology).[71]

The sections below list, and provide information about, queer and lgbtqia+ groups, businesses, and notable figures. These lists are not intended to be comprehensive, and at the end of each section is a list of additional queer and lgbtqia+ groups around India. The section concerning groups includes several that are now defunct but whose contribution to lgbtqia+ culture in India is significant as the groups shaped the lgbtqia+ community while they existed—and after.

Groups, formal and informal (in alphabetical order)

edit

Alternative Law Forum

edit

The Alternative Law Forum (ALF) in Bangalore, Karnataka (South India) is an organization that "integrates alternative lawyering with critical research, alternative dispute resolution,"[72] and additional education and community engagement on a range of issues. Frequently referred to as ALF, the Alternative Law Forum is known across India. ALF's motto, "lawyering for change,"[72] succinctly captures the organization's philosophy and body of work.

A group of lawyers who desired a forum in which to conduct legal work grounded in social justice concerns founded ALF in 2000,[73] ALF is regularly involved in assisting individuals who run afoul of potentially corrupt or discriminatory police, such as transgender and queer people.[74][75][76][77] Members of ALF took part in action against the Indian Government's August 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.[78] The organization hosts a small library and a variety of public events.[79]

Dragvanti

edit

Dragvanti is a non commercial India's first drag and Lgbtqia+ community and web portal for Indian and south Asian drag performers in India founded by Patruni Chidananda Sastry.[80][81][82] Dragvanti has organised Indians first drag conference called Hyderabad Drag Con in 2019.[83]

The Kinky Collective

edit

The Kinky Collective is a group of people who are interested in Kink—that is, BDSM (Bondage, Domination or Discipline, Submission or Sadism, and Masochism)—and/or who identify as kinky,[84] Based in Delhi, the collective seeks to spread information to those who are interested in BDSM. Not exclusively a queer space, The Kinky Collective includes many queer/lgbtqia+ individuals, explaining on their website that, fundamentally, "we want India to be a safer and sexier place for all people."[84]

Labia--A Queer Feminist LBT Collective

edit

Labia is "a Queer Feminist LBT [lesbian, bisexual, and trans] Collective"[85] based in Bombay. LABIA, long-dedicated to intersectionality,[86] does queer and feminist activism and organizing.

Several name evolutions undergone by LABIA reflect the changing politics of global queer/LGBTQIA+ conversations and the evolution of conversations occurring within LABIA meetings and between its members.[87] Originally known as Women to Women,[69] the group then became Stree Sangam—meaning "confluence of women"[88]—a name which would not stand out as particularly queer for those affiliated with the group yet hoping to remain discrete.[86] Stree Sangam later took on a new and more overt name, Lesbian and Bisexuals in Action, or LABIA for short.[88] Finally, in acknowledgement that the group included and recognized a multiplicity of genders and sexualities "Lesbians and Bisexuals in Action" became simply "LABIA—a Queer Feminist LBT Collective.[87]

The Pratyay Gender Trust

edit

The Pratyay Gender Trust is a Kolkata-based organization focused on transgender people. In 2015 Pratyay Gender Trust assisted in the production of a unique Durga idol for Kolkata’s annual Durga Puja; for the first time a puja idol was crafted to appear masculine on one side and feminine on the other.[89] The idol, described by some as a transgender idol, was made by the artist China Pal in Kolkata.

Prakshye is a magazine produced by Pratyay Gender Trust and released quarterly.[90] Very little information about Pratyay Gender Trust is available online. Alongside Sappho for Equality and The Goethe Institute, Pratyay Gender Trust organizes Kolkata’s Dialogues queer film festival.[91]

PRISM

edit

PRISM was a non-funded queer collective that figures in much anthropological and activist writing about Indian queer communities and activism in the late 1990s and 2000s.[69][92] Although the acronym originally stood for People for the Rights of Indian Sexual Minorities, PRISM eventually became, simply, PRISM.[69]

Sangama

edit

Sangama is an NGO that is based in and operates in Bangalore, Karnataka (a southern state of India).[69] Founded by Manohar, who is openly bisexual and eventually married a hijra who worked at Sangama,[69] the organization has been funded in part by funds channeled to address the spread of HIV/AIDS.[69] Sangama is not free of political and social controversy. In her 2012 book Queer Activism in India, Naisargi Dave notes that the organization faced "allegations of discriminations against hijra sex workers there."[93]

Sappho for Equality

edit

Based in Kolkata, in Eastern India, Sappho for Equality – or Sappho for short – is an organization for and by "sexually marginalized women and transmen"[94]—though they specify that "female and male transpersons"[94] are included under this banner. Begun in 2003, Sappho for Equality grew out of a group known only as Sappho, which was started in 1999.[92] The organization focuses on "rights and social justice"[94] for queer people and seeks "to go beyond identity-based politics."[94]

Sappho's physical-world base is at 21, Jogendra Garden (South), Ground Floor (near Hindol Park), in Kolkata (700 078).[94] Their website Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine also provides email and phone contact information for the many folks to avail their services, support and open community space. Furnished with a library, Sappho's headquarters are inviting and host many meetings, formal and informal. The organization actively engages with the wider community, collaborating with feminist movements and similar groups. Kolkata's annual film festival, Dialogues, is organized by Sappho, alongside The Pratyay Gender Trust, and The Goethe Institute.[91]

Sappho for Equality offers a range of services, including peer counseling, assistance with crises, and workshops. They offer mental health services not only to queer/LGBTQIA+ individuals, but also to members of these individuals' families.[94]

Voices Against 377

edit

Voices Against 377 is a collection of "organizations and individuals"[95] who together were, as their name expresses, banded together as "Voices Against 377."[95] The number 377 refers to the colonial-era penal code that was interpreted as criminalizing a range of sexual acts including anal sex. As the legal battle over IPC section 377 progressed, Voices—as it became known—was formed in Delhi in the fall of 2003 to represent a swath of people and groups that advocated for queer/lgbtqia+ interests, were against the penal code, and supported striking down or reading down the law.[69][96] Voices includes myriad groups and individuals. Organizations in Voices include: Anjuman, Breakthrough, Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), Haq: Center for Child Rights, Jagori, Nigah, Nirantar, Partners for Law in Development (PLD), PRISM, Saheli, and Sama.[95] Those individuals who make up Voices include: Gautham Bhan, Lesley Esteves, Ponni Arasu, Pramada Menon, and Sumit Baudh.[95]

Voices Against 377 was an intervenor in the Delhi High Court and India Supreme Court cases against IPC 377[74]—that is, they were a party in the case, though not the original plaintiff. In 2006, Voices Against 377 added its name in support of a petition filed by the Naz Foundation against IPC 377 after the India Supreme Court had reinstated the case to be heard by the Delhi High Court following the Delhi High Court's 2004 dismissal of the case on the basis that the issue was speculative rather than practical[97]—that is, that there was "no cause of action"[98] because the plaintiff, the NGO Naz Foundation, failed to demonstrate that prosecutions resulted from IPC 377.[98] A fundamental right to "dignity"[99] possessed by all, including LGBT people, was central to the filing that Voices contributed to the court case. Mr. Shyam Divan was the council representing Voices Against 377 when the case was heard in the Delhi High Court.[100]

Pride Circle Pride Circle is a "hiring consultancy firm"[101] geared towards LGBTQIA+ people in India based in Bangalore in South India.[101] Founded by Ramakrishna Sinha and Srini Ramaswamy in 2017,[102] Pride Circle is still in its nascency and yet has become known and reported on across India,[103] particularly following its crowning achievement, an LGBT-focused job fair held during the summer of 2019.

Pride Circle organized a job fair on 12 July 2019, that was widely touted as the first LGBT job fair in India.[102] Hosted by The Lalit Ashok in Bangalore, this first-of-its-kind job fair-cum-inclusivity-in-business conference attracted a plethora of globally known multi-national companies (MNCs).[104]

Additional groups include

edit

Good As You (Bangalore), The Humsafar Trust (Bombay), LesBit (Bangalore), Mobbera Foundation (Hyderabad), Nazariya (Delhi), Sahodaran (Chennai), Orinam (Chennai), Nirangal (Chennai), Magizhavan (Chennai), Queerala (Kochi), Queerythm (Thiruvananthapuram), Sahayathrika (Thrissur), Hridayam (Indore), Umang and more.

Queer/LGBTQIA+ businesses and business-oriented social spaces (in alphabetical order)

edit

Kitty Su

edit

Kitty Su, the LaLit's queer/lgbtqia+-friendly night club, has branches across India in the hotel chain's New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bangalore locations.[105] The Bangalore branch is referred to as Kitty Ko.[105] Kitty Su and Kitty Ko regularly host drag performances and other events catering to queer/lgbtqia+ folks.[105]

The LaLit hotel chain

edit

This 5-star luxury hotel chain is the only such major business chain in India that seeks to advertise and establish itself as self-consciously queer/lgbtqia+-friendly.[106] Keshav Suri, son of Lalit Suri who founded of the LaLit Hotel Group, is openly gay.[106] Keshav Suri took over management of the LaLit after his father's death.[107]

The LaLit New Delhi hosted a conference on psychology and lgbtqia+ identities, geared towards enhancing mental health professionals' understandings of lgbtqia+ identities and common experiences of discrimination that lgbtqia+ people may experience and which can negatively affect lgbqia+ peoples' mental health.[106]

The LaLit hotels are located in six cities: New Delhi, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and London.[108] The LaLit also owns palaces (in Udaipur and Srinagar) and resorts (in Raj Baga, Palolem Canacona, Goa; Bekal, Kerala; Faridabad, Haryana; and Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh).[108]

Mykonos

edit

Mykonos, located in South Delhi near Qutub Minar, is a business that includes a guest house, spa, and gym.[109] Q Café was also located on the rooftop of Mykonos, although it is now closed.[68] Described on its own and travel websites as a "men’s spa," Mykonos caters towards men.[109] The rainbow background of its sign and—visible in a photo on the website—and events listed on the website make clear that the venue caters to queer and lgbtqia+ people, and predominately to gay men.[110] The spa's website does not make clear whether, or to what extent, women are welcome and if women wishing to use the spa—steam room, dry sauna, Jacuzzi tub, and gym—would be turned away.[110] Guests should also note that there is no official information on what the norms of behavior—social and sexual—are at Mykonos. Particularly, it is not clear to what extent safe sex practices—such as always using condoms—are the norm at Mykonos.

Notable queer and LGBTQIA+ figures in India (in alphabetical order by surname)

edit

Dutee Chand

edit

Dutee Chand, an Indian sprinter already famous for her speed, received an extra dose of attention in 2019 following her announcement that she was in a relationship with a woman from her home village in Odisha, India.[111] Although she specifically noted to news media that she does not use any label like "gay" to describe herself, Chand has been labeled as India's first openly gay athlete by a plethora of media sources.[111]

Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju

edit

Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju are two lawyers who worked together on the final hearing before the supreme regarding IPC 377.[112] After a complex, multi-decade legal battle over the statue, the Indian supreme court read down the statue in 2018[113] and the two women won a place in Time's 2019 list of the 100 most influential people.[112] The two publicly announced that they are a couple in 2019.[113]

Ashok Row Kavi

edit

Claiming to be the first openly gay man in India, Ashok Row Kavi is a journalist and activist who founded the well-known, large, and well-funded Humsafar Trust based in Bombay.[114] Also colloquially awarded the moniker "the mother of gay activism [in India]"[114] Row Kavi was one of the petitioners who fought against IPC 377.[114] He is also known for his support for the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP and India's present Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[114]

Arvind Narrain

edit

Arvind Narrain is a lawyer who, along with several others, founded the Alternative Law Forum.[115] He is the co-editor of several books, including Law Like Love[74] and Because I Have a Voice.[96] He works on queer and lgbtqia+ rights nationally and internationally.

Keshav Suri

edit

Keshav Suri is a hotelier and the executive director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group Hotels founded by his father, Lalit Suri.[106][116] Openly gay and married to his long-time partner Cyril Feuillbois since June 2018,[106][117] Keshav Suri has emerged in recent years as a queer and gay leader both in business practices in India and in corners of queer/lgbtqia+ communities in India.[118]

Sukhdeep Singh

edit

Sukhdeep Singh is the founder and editor of Gaylaxy, an India-focused LGBT online magazine.[119] Singh works as a software engineer.[119] Singh received the youth leadership award of Sher Vancouver and is also author of several articles on how he conceptualizes the meeting of Sikhism and queerness.[120]

Laxmi Tripathi

edit

Laxmi Tripathi is a well-known Bombay-based activist who works on transgender rights.[121] She identifies specifically as a hijra.[121] She is the author of Me Laxmi, me Hijra.[122]

Living Smile Vidya

edit

Living Smile Vidya is an author, performance artist, and transgender activist based in Chennai.[123] She holds a masters in linguistics.[124] She has received awards for her work, including "Best Story" from the Karnataka State Film Award in 2014[125] and the Charles Wallace scholarship in 2013.[126] Meanwhile, her book, I am Vidya: A Transgender's Journey,[127] has been translated into seven languages.[128] In addition to her publications, she has spoken about her experiences being a "dalit transgender writer"[129] in an interview.

Other notable figures

edit

Additional notable figures include Gautham Bhan, Ritu Dalmia, Pawan Dhall, Hoshang Merchant, A. Revathi, Chayanika Shah, Giti Thadani, Siddharth Thirmulai Kumar (Chennai's first openly gay amateur tennis player and notable Transgender rights activist), Akkai Padmashali, Grace Banu Vijayarajamallika.

Organizations

edit

There are many organizations in many cities of India, such as Humsafar (Mumbai), Alternative Law Forum (Bangalore), Sangama (Karnataka), Chennai Dost, Orinam.net and Nazariya[130] (Delhi NCR) are working for LGBT rights.[131] There are also organisations which function nationwide like Human Rights India and Gaysi. Many of these organizations operate in a very informal way and locally funded.[132] In Kerala, organizations like Queerala and Queerythm gave a new face to LGBT rights. Apart from Non governmental organization's and Community based organisation's LGBTQIA+ student movements which are registered under the government of India are Srishti Madurai a student volunteer LGBTQIA and Genderqueer movement based at Madurai.[1] In June 2016, a platform named [Amour | amour.lgbtq.co.in] is launched in India to help LGBTIQ community members find long term companions.[133]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "One Who Fights For an Other". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ Ray, Sanjana (11 September 2018). "Indian Culture Does Recognise Homosexuality, Let Us Count the Ways". TheQuint. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ^ Srinivasan, Shiva Prakash; Chandrasekaran, Sruti (2020). "Transsexualism in Hindu Mythology". Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 24 (3): 235–236. doi:10.4103/ijem.IJEM_152_20. ISSN 2230-8210. PMC 7539026. PMID 33083261.
  4. ^ "Sexual Misconduct (Kamesumicchacara) and the Philosophical Implications of Sexual Deviance in Buddhist Literature and Contemporary Buddhist Sexual Ethics". International Association for Buddhist Thought and Culture. 22: 145–161. 15 February 2014. doi:10.16893/iafbtac.22.8. ISSN 1598-7914.
  5. ^ Tiwari, Nityannand (2010). "Homosexuality in India: Review of Literatures". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1679203. ISSN 1556-5068.
  6. ^ Ervad Behramshah Hormusji Bharda (1990). "The Importance of Vendidad in the Zarathushti Religion". tenets.zoroastrianism.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  7. ^ Ervad Marzban Hathiram. "Significance and Philosophy of the Vendidad" (PDF). frashogard.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Ranghaya, Sixteenth Vendidad Nation & Western Aryan Lands". heritageinstitute.com. Heritage Institute. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  9. ^ Jones, Lesley-Ann (13 October 2011). Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography: The Definitive Biography. Hachette UK, 2011. p. 28. ISBN 9781444733709. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. ^ Tritiya-Prakriti: People of the Third Sex, p. 40
  11. ^ Suneeta Singh, Sangita Dasgupta, Pallav Patankar, Minati Sinha, p. 83 A People Stronger: The Collectivization of MSM and TG groups in India
  12. ^ Shrikumar, A. (18 October 2013). "No more under siege". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  13. ^ "The Many Genders of Old India – the Gay & Lesbian Review". 2 March 2015.
  14. ^ "What went wrong for gays in India?". 19 March 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  15. ^ Jeffrey S. Siker, p.10, Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia
  16. ^ FM. Krishna Kumari, p. 151 Sermons from Stones: Contribution of Andhras to Art, Culture, and Thought
  17. ^ Ruth Vanita, p. 27 Same-Sex Love in India: Readings from Literature and History
  18. ^ Ruth Vanita, p. 27 Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions, Volume 1
  19. ^ Giti Thadani, p. 27 Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions, Volume 1
  20. ^ p. 50-51, Sexual Diversity in Asia, c. 600 – 1950, edited by Raquel A.G. Reyes, William Gervase Clarence-Smith
  21. ^ Same-Sex Love in India, edited by Ruth Vanita
  22. ^ p. 32, Love’s Rite: Same-Sex Marriage in India and the West, by Ruth Vanita
  23. ^ a b Shah, Svati P. (2015). "Queering Critiques of Neoliberalism in India: Urbanism and Inequality in the Era of Transnational "LGBTQ" Rights". Antipode. 47 (3): 635–651. Bibcode:2015Antip..47..635S. doi:10.1111/anti.12112. ISSN 1467-8330.
  24. ^ a b c Dasgupta, Rohit K. (16 March 2017). Digital queer cultures in India : politics, intimacies and belonging. London. ISBN 9781351800570. OCLC 976434162.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  25. ^ "Team". Gaysi. Archived from the original on 10 December 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Gay Dating Trend in India".
  27. ^ "India's First Queer Radio Station Launching on Sep 11". 9 September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  28. ^ "Indian queers soon to have their own Radio channel". Pink Pages. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Indian TV soap operas step out of the closet". Dawn. AFP. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  30. ^ a b Sharma, Vaibhav (26 April 2016). "Gay-Themed Movies in India Fight Back Against Taboos". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  31. ^ Gehlawat, Ajay (2010). Reframing Bollywood: Theories of popular Hindi cinema. India: SAGE Publications. pp. 84–111.
  32. ^ Dinesh Bhugra; Gurvinder Karla; Antonio Ventriglio (2015). "Portrayal of gay characters in Bollywood cinema". International Review of Psychiatry. 25 (5): 455–459. doi:10.3109/09540261.2015.1086320. PMID 26535451. S2CID 43307351.
  33. ^ "Oneness: Manipur's first gay film normalizes LGBTQ representation". Lagatar. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  34. ^ "KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival". KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festivals. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  35. ^ Gowallal, Reema (23 February 2017). "Film fest celebrates art in the LGBT community". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  36. ^ Rao, Subha J. (28 July 2016). "Where the mind is without fear". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  37. ^ "LGBT film fest to focus on identities". Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  38. ^ "DIALOGUES: Calcutta International LGBTQIA+ Film and Video Festival". 17 March 2024.
  39. ^ "LGBT film fest to focus on sexuality in South Asia". Business Standard India. 16 November 2014.
  40. ^ Kaushal, Akshay (3 February 2016). "From Celina to Raveena: Bollywood comes out in support of gay rights". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  41. ^ Mahapatral, Dhananjay (28 June 2016). "Gay celebs cite right to life, move SC against section 377". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  42. ^ "Nartaki Natraj, Bharatnatyam Dancer, Becomes First Trans Person to Receive Padma Shri". 26 January 2019.
  43. ^ "Goa's first-ever rainbow pride walk to be held in Panaji today". The Times of India. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  44. ^ "First gay parade held in India's Gujarat state". The Daily Telegraph. London. 7 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013.
  45. ^ Dilip, Mangala (23 November 2014). "Baroda's First LGBT Pride Festival: "We Pay Taxes, We do our Duties; Why Don't we have Equal Rights?"". Ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  46. ^ "75 transgenders take part in 1st Steel City LGBT parade".
  47. ^ "Kerala to host its first gay pride parade". The Times of India.
  48. ^ "LGBT Community Organises 'Queer Pride March' in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram".
  49. ^ "Hundreds take part in LGBTQ pride parade". The Hindu.
  50. ^ "When chants of 'Happy pride' and 'My body, my right' broke silence of hot noon in Kochi". The News Minute.
  51. ^ "Thiruvananthapuram hosts pride walk 2020". The Times of India.
  52. ^ "LGBT community, supporters take out 'pride parade' in Nagpur". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  53. ^ "Pride Walk in Bhawanipatna, Odisha: July 13, 2012". Orinam.net. 13 July 2012.
  54. ^ "Amritsar teenagers to lead the first ever 'Pride Parade' of Punjab".
  55. ^ Karthikeyan, D. (30 July 2012). "Cities / Madurai : Madurai comes out of the closet". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  56. ^ "Film Festival in Chennai, Tamil Nadu: 7th June, 2013". chennaidost.com/chennai-rainbow-film-festival/. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  57. ^ "Lucknow just held its first Pride Parade and it was truly magnificent". Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  58. ^ "More than 200 participants at Doon's first pride parade".
  59. ^ Karthikeyan, Shruti. "Kochi youth hugging their way to happiness". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  60. ^ "Nagpur youngsters celebrate rainbow pride and diversity – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  61. ^ "City celebrates 'A Pride Carnival'". photogallery.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  62. ^ "Chennai's LGBTQIA+ community is coming out in order to take down Section 377". Edex Live. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  63. ^ "Indian Coming Out Day". DNA India. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  64. ^ "First LGBTQIA cultural festival in Ahmedabad on July 2". The Times of India. 12 June 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  65. ^ Ung Long, Jennifer (2017). "Representation, Visibility, Legibility: The 'Queer' Subject in Contemporary India". Queer/Religion. 14 (7).
  66. ^ Dube, Siddharth (14 September 2018). "The Strange, Long Afterlife of an Inhumane Colonial Law". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  67. ^ Rosney, Daniel (6 March 2019). "LGBT India six months after gay sex ruling". Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  68. ^ a b "Q-Cafe". MYKONOS. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  69. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dave, Naisargi N. (2012). Queer activism in India : a story in the anthropology of ethics. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-5305-8. OCLC 769916204.
  70. ^ Dutoya, Virginie (2 April 2016). "Defining the "queers" in India: The politics of academic representation". India Review. 15 (2): 241–271. doi:10.1080/14736489.2016.1165570. ISSN 1473-6489. S2CID 148338788.
  71. ^ Kurian, Alka; Jha, Sonora (18 October 2017). New feminisms in South Asia : disrupting the discourse through social media, film, and literature. New York, NY. ISBN 978-1-317-21077-1. OCLC 1007134329.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  72. ^ a b "Alternative Law Forum". altlawforum.org. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  73. ^ "About ALF | Alternative Law Forum". altlawforum.org. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  74. ^ a b c Narrain, Arvind; Gupta, Alok (2011). Law like love : queer perspectives on law. New Delhi: Yoda Press. ISBN 978-93-80403-14-4. OCLC 741445911.
  75. ^ "Why do you want a lawyer? Bengaluru Police asks Tanzanian woman". Hindustan Times. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  76. ^ "Section 377 and the biases against sexual minorities in India". Hindustan Times. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  77. ^ "Young women seek protection in Bangalore after attacks". Hindustan Times. 2 March 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  78. ^ "Article 370 revoked in J&K: A look back at its history and what now". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  79. ^ "Events | Alternative Law Forum". altlawforum.org. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  80. ^ "DragVanti, India's first drag website, aims to encourage the art form". 19 June 2020.
  81. ^ "For all things drag". The New Indian Express. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  82. ^ "#PrideMonth: Amid the pandemic, the pride marches on, virtually – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  83. ^ Bhavani, Divya Kala (25 October 2019). "Hyderabad to have its first-ever Drag Con". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  84. ^ a b "Title describing the post". Kinky Collective. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  85. ^ "LABIA – a Queer Feminist LBT Collective Archives". orinam. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  86. ^ a b Phukan, Vikram (18 December 2015). "LABIA celebrates 20th birthday". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  87. ^ a b Shah, Chayanika; Merchant, Raj; Mahajan, Shals; Nevatia, Smritia (2015). No outlaws in the gender galaxy. New Delhi. ISBN 978-93-84757-68-7. OCLC 907206183.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  88. ^ a b Dave, Naisargi N. (2012). Queer activism in India : a story in the anthropology of ethics. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-8223-5305-8. OCLC 769916204.
  89. ^ Basu, Indrani (15 October 2015). "How India Got Its First Transgender Durga Idol". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  90. ^ "Little Magazines do Big Wonder". Gaylaxy Magazine. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  91. ^ a b "Kolkata LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) film festival to kick off on Friday". Hindustan Times. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  92. ^ a b Chatterjee, Shraddha (2018). Queer politics in India : towards sexual subaltern subjects. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 978-1-315-17850-9. OCLC 1019837702.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  93. ^ Dave, Naisargi N. (2012). Queer activism in India : a story in the anthropology of ethics. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-8223-5305-8. OCLC 769916204.
  94. ^ a b c d e f "Sappho for Equality". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  95. ^ a b c d "Who We Are". Voices Against 377. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  96. ^ a b Narrain, Arvind; Bhan, Gautam (2005). Because I have a voice : queer politics in India. New Delhi: Yoda Press. ISBN 81-902272-2-X. OCLC 64280175.
  97. ^ Thomas, Maria (6 September 2018). "Timeline: The struggle against section 377 began over two decades ago". Quartz India. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  98. ^ a b "History". Voices Against 377. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  99. ^ Narrain, Arvind; Gupta, Alok (2011). Law like love : queer perspectives on law. New Delhi: Yoda Press. pp. 264. ISBN 978-93-80403-14-4. OCLC 741445911.
  100. ^ Narrain, Arvind; Gupta, Alok (2011). Law like love : queer perspectives on law. New Delhi: Yoda Press. pp. 268. ISBN 978-93-80403-14-4. OCLC 741445911.
  101. ^ a b Vaid, Rohit (21 July 2019). "India set to get first dedicated LGBT hiring consultancy". livemint.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  102. ^ a b "India's first LGBTI job fair". @businessline. The Hindu (Business). 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  103. ^ Narrain, Aparna (2 July 2019). "A job fair exclusively for LGBTI persons on July 12". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  104. ^ "RISE – Reimagining Inclusion for Social Equity". Pride Circle. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  105. ^ a b c "Kitty Su – Nightclubs in Delhi / Mumbai / Chandigarh". Kitty Su. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  106. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Cynthia (17 April 2018). "#StoriesOf2018: Keshav Suri And His Queer Mission". Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  107. ^ Sabharwal, Punita (10 November 2018). "The Happy And Gay Hotelier". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  108. ^ a b "The LaLiT". The LaLiT. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  109. ^ a b "Delhi / New Delhi Gay Saunas and Bathhouse Information in National Capital Territory, India by Utopia Asia". utopia-asia.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  110. ^ a b "Mykonos". Mykonos Spa. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  111. ^ a b Dhillon, Amrit (10 June 2019). "'No one can live without love': athlete Dutee Chand, India's LGBT trailblazer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  112. ^ a b Chopra, Priyanka. "Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy: The 100 Most Influential People of 2019". TIME. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  113. ^ a b "Lawyers Menaka Guruswamy & Arundhati Katju, the face of historic Section 377 verdict, reveal they're a couple". The Economic Times. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  114. ^ a b c d Singh, Nandita; Rampal, Nikhil (21 July 2018). "India's first and oldest gay rights activist is also on the extreme right of RSS". ThePrint. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  115. ^ "About Arvind Narrain, Director of Research and Practice". Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  116. ^ "Keshav Suri – Delhi". thelalit.com. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  117. ^ Kaushik, Divya (9 September 2018). "Hotelier Keshav Suri: I wondered whether I should marry a lesbian woman to make my life easier | Delhi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  118. ^ "Keshav Suri: September 6th Is The Freedom Day For People Of The LGBTQ Community". Outlook (India). 8 September 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  119. ^ a b "Sukhdeep Singh, Author at Gaylaxy Magazine". Gaylaxy Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  120. ^ "South Asian LGBT magazine founder Sukhdeep Singh receives Sher Vancouver's youth leadership award". The Georgia Straight. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  121. ^ a b Laxmi (17 August 2016). "Why I chose to become a hijra: Laxmi in her own words". Scroll.in. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  122. ^ Tripāṭhī, Lakshmīnārāyaṇa; Raj Rao, R.; Joshi, P. G. (2015). Me hijra, me Laxmi (First ed.). New Delhi, India. ISBN 978-0-19-945826-4. OCLC 904182933.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  123. ^ Rao, Subha J. (15 November 2016). "Despair before hope". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  124. ^ "Living Smile Vidya". Rupa Publications. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  125. ^ Rao, Subha J. (15 November 2016). "Despair before hope". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  126. ^ Pavel, Imtiaz (6 May 2013). "Living Smile Vidya wins Charles Wallace 2013 scholarship". orinam. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  127. ^ I am Vidya : a transgender's journey. New Delhi: Rupa Publications India. 2013. ISBN 978-81-291-2398-5. OCLC 861739626.
  128. ^ "Vidya scripts her path". The Hindu. 7 October 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  129. ^ "(Trans)gender and caste lived experience – Transphobia as a form of Brahminism: An Interview of Living Smile Vidya". Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  130. ^ "The latest to join the movement for the LGBTQ+ community are five students of KNC". hindustantimes.com. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  131. ^ "Pride guide: 7 LGBTQ organisations you should know about". GQ India.
  132. ^ "Queer Groups in India & Abroad". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  133. ^ Sawant, Anagha (22 July 2016). "Now, a dating platform for LGBT community". dnaindia.com.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LGBTQ_culture_in_India&oldid=1251669644"