A movement highlighting South Asian LGBTQ+ voices
When we launched Gaysians.org in early 2017, we had three goals;
to increase positive visibility of LGBTQ+ South Asian people in the media
to better connect our community to each other
to improve access to support services.
We were invisibilised in queer spaces and Asian spaces, as well as in the media. We struggled to access support services because they lacked the resources and funding to reach us.
Thanks to a united effort from many organisations and individuals that we work with, LGBTQ+ South Asians are now more widely represented in queer spaces and in the media. We write for major media platforms and are telling our own stories. We have been welcomed and supported by the wider Queer community and media and the 2018 Gaysians issue of Gay Times was the first of its kind in the world.
Founder and CEO Reeta Loi’s work in lobbying for legislation change in India has been amplified by media coverage and has helped show us what is possible when we work together as a global community.
Loi says:
“We have achieved our goals. From improving outreach for South Asian people experiencing homelessness, supporting South Asian and LGBTQ+ charities to better understand our mental health needs on their phone support lines, galvanising our communities at Pride events and celebrations, and the 1 to 1 support we have provided to people the world over via our email inbox, we are proud of our work and the change we have seen in our wonderful community. Thank you to every single one of you who has supported us along the way and to all the charities that choose to invest in learning about our community.
I’d like to give my thanks to all of our volunteers over the years, ours is a success story and one we’ll always be proud of. Thank you to the many partners we’ve worked alongside including Club Kali, Naz and Matt Foundation and AKT.”
From 2024 we will become a digital only resource after 7 years of events, active lobbying, media and community-building work.
We are aware that the Resources part of our platform provides vital support for the wellbeing of our community and that the Letters on our site help many people feel seen. We will endeavour to keep gaysians.org live for the foreseeable. The erasure of PoC, women and trans-led movements is well known and the safeguarding of our journey and the progress of our community is our priority.
While we are moving from a community movement to a digital resource, we are still active community members who will continue this work in our own ways. Should Gaysians need to make a comeback, we may just do that.
Thank you and with much love,
The Gaysians Team x