“I’m Sikh, and culturally the older generation don’t accept homosexuality. My father ordered me to marry a woman because he thought that would cure my homosexuality.” Ranjeep, a Sikh man living in the UK describes his family’s extreme response when he came out to them as gay in this BBC article about LGBTQ South Asians who are being forced into heterosexual marriages in Britain. The Foreign Office and Home Office set up

“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

The United Nations Human Rights Office unveiled its latest weapon in the fight against homophobia: a Bollywood-style video called “The Welcome.” The two-and-a-half-minute clip features two handsome heroes dressed in many shades of velvet on the eve of their unorthodox nuptial celebrations. But will daadi-ma approve? You’ll have to watch and find out! The video is the attempt by the UN Free & Equal campaign to challenge negative stereotypes of lesbian, gay,