“I have always believed that everyone should have the freedom to love.” Dutee Chand, the 100 m record holder and winner of two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, is the first Indian sports star to acknowledge being in a same-sex relationship. India’s fastest running woman, Chand, 23, was previously known for fighting for the right to compete in races against other women. She has hyperandrogenism, a condition that naturally

The Kenyan film, Rafiki, a romance about two teenage girls falling in love in Nairobi received positive reviews internationally when it was released last year, but was summarily banned at home as the subject of lesbian love was classified as “incendiary.” The head of film classification expanded on the board’s opinion – “The attempt to normalize homosexuality is akin to air-conditioning hell.” Director Wanuri Kahiu is suing the government for infringement of

As we celebrate Pride across the globe this June, the NY Times recently highlighted the continued challenges faced by LGBTQ folks in India under the regressive  Section 377 of the Indian Penal code criminalizing gay sex. This summer, India’s Supreme Court is expected to consider petitions made by members of the LGBTQ community who are mobilizing for change. As  the court reviews the law’s constitutionality, lawyers and activists who have been

“Seeking 25-40, well-placed, animal-loving, vegetarian GROOM for my SON (36, 5’11”), who works with an NGO, Caste No Bar (though IYER preferred)” Harish Iyer’s mom, Padma, felt her son needed a little push in the romance department and like many meddling Indian parents, she decided to take the matter into her own hands by placing a personal ad in a local Mumbai newspaper. The fact that her son—an activist and

Aamir Khan’s tear jerking hit talk show Satyamev Jayate took on the topic of  “accepting alternative sexualities.” Guests included LGBTI activists, parents, out psychologist Deepak Kashyap, and one amazing grandmother. The show included frank, funny, and heartfelt interviews with out Indian queers. Satyamev Jayate has a reach of a whopping 129.6 million and this episode had massive viewer impact. According to Gay Star News, the hashtag #FreedomForLGBT became the top trending topic globally on Twitter

While the media went gaga over Aishwarya Rai’s svelte new look on the Cannes red carpet, Sonam Kapoor also appeared at the film festival (in a stunning Anamika Khanna sari) where she publicly lamented the Indian Supreme Court’s ruling on Secion 377 which upholds the ban on gay sex. In an interview, Sonam talked about last year’s Palme d’Or winner, “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” a lesbian love story, and whether such

In the wake of the Indian Supreme Court’s declining to review its judgment on Section 377, NDTV’s The Big Fight presents “The Homosexuality Debate.”  Sparks fly as the conversation bounces from protecting minority rights to gays threatening the “survival of humanity” through their “unnatural acts!” Panelists include LGBT rights activist and filmmaker,  Sridhar Rangayan; Father Stanley of the Archdiocese of Delhi; Kamal Faruqui of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board;

Even with the large domestic and international vocal protest against the Indian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Indian Penal Code’s Section 377 last December, the SC remains stubborn and refused to take another look at the controversial ruling.  The order issued today simply states:  ““We have gone through the review petitions and the connected papers. We see no reason to interfere with the order impugned. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed”. Several