While beauty contests may be so 20th century, desi New Yorkers shared a moment of brown pride when Nina Davuluri from New York was crowned the first Indian-American Miss America. She knocked out the judges and audience with a classical/Bollywood dance number and, upon winning, the aspiring physician noted “I’m so happy this organization has celebrated diversity, and, on this stage tonight, there was so much diversity…” Predictably but sadly, a barrage

The trailer for one of the most talked about, delayed and hyped Bollywood movies in recent years is out – “Dhoom 3″ – with Aamir Khan (and his chiseled chest), Abhishek Bachchan,  Uday Chopra and Katrina Kaif.  We’ re not to optimistic about Katrina’s ability to take over where Aishwarya left off in the second installment, but we’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.

Nepal has chosen “Soongava – Dance of the Orchids,” a lesbian romance, to represent the country for the Oscars next year.  According to Variety,the film “recounts the secret love story between a teacher and a dancer which comes to light when the parents of one announce that they have found a suitable boy for their daughter to marry” and is seen as a challenge to Hindu traditions. While it hasn’t

Over the summer, we noticed this important editorial in the “Dhaka Tribune” calling for the decriminalization of same-sex relations in Bangladesh. Same-sex relationships are outlawed under the British era criminal code Section 377. The subheading of the article “Everyone has the right to live his or her life without fear, and nothing is gained by making people a target for persecution” pretty much sums it up. Also encouraging to see the

The apartment of Sholay’s Atif Toor and his partner Aamir Khandwala are featured as “Space of the Week” in the current issue of New York Magazine. View the slideshow and accompanying narrative on their journey to convert a drab and dull space into one of the most colorful and eclectic apartments featured in the magazine.   We are very proud of Atif and Aamir!

The Asia Society’s blog, which featured our own Ashu Rai a few months ago, has a new interview up with Bindiya Rana,  president of Gender Interactive Alliance in Pakistan, an organization that works for the rights and social justice for  the transgender  community in Pakistan.  Bindiya talks about her work with the organization in Pakistan which has been focused on providing access to basic health care and the well being of transgender people in

Photos by Gerald Hurt.