Check out this latest interview with Sholay’s Ashu Rai on Asia Society’s blog by Jeff Tompkins, Senior Producer of Asia Society Online, as we conclude Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and kick off LGBT Pride month (and check here for ways to celebrate desi-style!). Jeff digs into the history of Sholay and Desilicious along with inspirations and favorite tracks of the moment

If you’re working on planning your big summer/fall trip, make sure to check your destination against this detailed index by Spartacus World, the gay travel site, of the most LGBT-friendly countries in the world. Last updated in February, the index includes 14 different categories ranging from marriage to the death penalty. The top destinations are Sweden, Belgium, France, Netherlands and the UK. Sadly but not surprisingly, Sri Lanka and India

June has begun which means Happy LGBT month! We’ve got the scoop on the hottest Queer Desi events for June. Be sure to check back since this list will change. Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 PM Brooklyn Pride March and Celebration Friday, June 28th Trans Day of Justice Check back for details. Desilicious Hot Pink Pride 10PM – 4AM at Pachita Saturday, June 29th NYC Dyke March Sunday, June 30th

The Brooklyn Film Festival was the place to be on a warm Saturday afternoon and we were glad to make the trek to Indie Cinema on Kent Avenue and 3rd street in Williamsburg where we caught the New York premiere of “Without Shepherds”. Directed by Cary Mcclelland and featuring the music of Arooj Aftab, “Without Shepherds” chronicles six individuals in Pakistan who try to navigate the chaos in the country

We are finally bringing the party to London on June 15th, with “Bollywood Central”, the first Central London Bollywood party in over two decades at Halfway II Heaven in Central London. The party will feature Asifa Lahore, Silver Summers, Rezzia and Tanisha Khan with Bolly Beats and visuals by Lotus Visual. Proceeds from the night will be donated to The Naz Project, London, a charity supporting the LGBT community for

We were very saddened to hear of Rituparno Ghosh’s passing last week, the critically aclaimed Bengali director and admirer of Satyatjit Ray. His films include “Chokher Bali”, “Raincoat”, “Chitrangada” and “Abohoman”. In addition to his catalogue of films spanning two decades, Sandip Roy notes in his excellent tribute that the world has lost ..”someone who embraced his sexual minority not with an activist zeal but an almost matter-of-fact brazenness by

Be sure to catch a screening of the Pakistani film “JOSH” as it plays in select East Coast cities this week. “Josh” (Against the Grain) is the story of a privileged woman whose life is shattered in a single moment as she embarks on the search for a dangerous truth. The film focuses on the biggest challenge to Pakistan’s still reigning feudalism: the country’s youth as it explores the internal

Get to know Asifa Lahore who, according to her Twitter page, is a “club hostess, cabaret artist, singer, dj and LGBT activist” and very talented to boot! And, check out her fantastic take on the classic track, “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja” from the film “Disco Dancer”. According to a recent interview, Asifa’s goal was to “hone in on British and Indian stereotypes and bring them across in a humorous and