Pride Month is an entire month in June dedicated to the uplifting of LGTBQIA+ voices, celebration of LGTBQIA+ culture and the support of LGTBQIA+ rights. Throughout the month of June, nationwide, there have traditionally been parades, protests, performances, live theatre and celebrations. It is part political activism, part celebration of all the LGTBQIA+ community has achieved over the years.
LGBTQIA is the inclusive queer term which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex and asexual and/or allies. Making yourself familiar with all the parts of terms like “LGTBQIA” is important, not just for yourself but for society.
GLAAD, or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has explained why it is important for society to use appropriate language: “The right words can help open people’s hearts and minds, while others can create distance or confusion.”
We celebrate in June to coincide with the catalyst of the Gay Liberation Movement that was the Stonewall Uprising. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided a popular gay bar in N.Y.C.’s West Village, The Stonewall Inn. This was commonplace for the time, but on this particular evening, the patrons of the bar fought back, starting the Stonewall Riots, which went on for days.
The Stonewall Inn was declared a historic landmark by the city of New York in 2015 and later named a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016.
A question I have been asking myself this month is: are we doing enough to support our LGBTQIA+ community? Am I showing enough solidarity through this platform, social media and my interactions with others? And I have disappointingly come to the realisation I could be doing much more to show our support as allies.
Prior to British Colonialism, gender and sexual diversity were celebrated in South Asian communities. But legislation banning so called ‘unnatural acts’ was inherited from British rule and left in place following independence, with damaging effect.
For years, many LGBTQIA+ people within those communities have been silenced and marginalised.
Due to this and interpretations of religious scriptures, cultural and social stigmas, South Asians often struggle to come out but in PRIDE history there have been, and continue to be, LGBTQIA+ British South Asians who help others either by creating representation through the arts or by creating safe spaces for them.
Sharing a few of them here and organisations that can help support you in this is something you need help with.
I also want to make it clear, I have a long way to go in terms of the language we use and being fully representative but we unconditionally support our LGBTQIA+ community. You have an ally in us.
DJ Ritu. Ritu is a DJ, RJ, broadcaster and event host. Ritu was a founding member of the LGBTQI+ rights organisation Shakti and DJ at the UK’s first LGBTQI+ club, Club Shakti. A safe space, it was renamed Club Kali in 1995. Now famous, it continues to welcome queer-identifying individuals. Ritu is known for playing a mix of pop, RnB, World and Bollywood music to support the multicultural British Asian identity.
Sharan Dhaliwal, the founder of South Asian publication Burnt Roti, has established a career creatively dissecting subjects on culture, queerness and womanhood. In her debut book Burning My Roti: Breaking Barriers as a Queer Indian Woman, the journalist-turned-author introspectively dives into the facets that make her whole. She wants to empower other queer women to share their stories.
Pratibha Parmar. Pratibha is a filmmaker director, producer and writer. Many of her films have shown south Asian LGBTQI+ relationships, increasing conversation and representation in the community. In 1989, she released a profile on the gay Indian photographer Sunil Gupta, who’s work looks at the lives and issues of gay men around the world. In 1990, Pratibha released Flesh and Paper which looked at the life of the Indian lesbian poet and writer Suniti Bamjoshi, and then in 1991, she released the film she best known for: Kush. Kush is a documentary about south Asian gay men and women in the UK, US and India. 1992, she released the film Double the Trouble, Twice the Fun, which looked at disability and homosexuality in both women and men.
The aims of British Asian LGBTI are to
Offer social support to South Asians lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning and intersex aged 16+ regardless of their faith or culture.
Create a positive experience for South Asians LGBTQI within a safe environment.
Provide a platform for South Asian LGBTQI people to speak up and gain recognition and representation.
Empower those individuals to find acceptance within themselves and the wider community.
Organise educational events and conferences for the South Asian LGBTQI and wider community.
RANG is a social support group open to South Asian & Middle Eastern men (and trans masculine men) who may identify as gay or bisexual. In some South Asian countries RANG means “Colour”.
The aims of the group are:
- To reduce feelings of isolation and exclusion.
- To meet other men from similar cultural backgrounds and experience.
- To provide a safe space to discuss common issues, make friends and get to know more about cultural events happening in and around Birmingham.
- Imaan
- Is the leading LGBTQ+ Muslim Support Org celebrating 20 years of service.
South Asian Sexual & Mental Health
The above link has a list of other incredible organisations that are supporting the diaspora across the world.
“No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow.” Alice Walker