Desi LGBTQIA+ | Desi Rainbow

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Promoting
Family Acceptance
in the Desi Community

We seek to build a Desi Diaspora community that values, affirms and celebrates all LGBTQIA+ identities.

WHAT WE DO

GET SUPPORT!

Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies provides a supportive and affirming space for South Asian LGBTQIA+ people and their families to talk about family relationships and learn about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Desi Rainbow is currently only able to serve folks who live primarily in North America. As a mostly volunteer-operated organization, our capacity is limited. If you live outside of North America, please check out our resources page for other organizations who may be better equipped to meet your needs: www.desirainbow.org/resources/

"It was a great experience to be able to talk to someone about what has been on my mind and was nice to know that community exists."

TESTIMONIALS

EVENTS

Join us on May 15 for Pyar is Pyar, a celebration of and for LGBTQIA+ South Asians in New York!

Our community meets online for support and education. We host monthly support and advocacy groups for the community as well as regular education events, inclusive holiday celebrations and much more.

Calendar

SUPPORT DRPA

Donate today to help us lay the foundation of our community!

Make a Donation

WHAT WE DO

We offer a variety of programs and support groups to fit different needs. See what works for you!

Explore our Programs

🩵Desi Rainbow celebrates the power of Pyar (love) to transform our lives. We are honored to have @alokvmenon as our host for Pyar is Pyar, a fundraiser for Desi Rainbow on May 15.  🫂The support of the LGBTQIA+ and allied Desi community is what sustains our work of providing support, education and advocacy for Desi folks struggling with family and community acceptance of their gender identity and sexuality.   🌈To support our work with a donation, visit visit givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
Link in bio  ❤️Presenting Sponsor: Deutsche Bank
💜Platinum Sponsor: The Asian American Foundation
💛Gold Sponsor: Goldman Sachs Gives
🤍Silver Sponsors: Nomura, Pretium
🤎Bronze Sponsors: South Asian Impact, The Ramesh & Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, EXL

pr & marketing support by @pankti_doshi

#loveislove #pyarispyar #desiqueer #lgbtq #DesisStandUpForAllOurKids #desirainbowally

💓 A mothers love and support for their LGBQTIA+ child can have a profound impact on the child's ability to navigate a hostile world with confidence. Desi Rainbow applauds mothers who stand up for their queer and trans child. We wish all mothers (birth or chosen) a happy Mother's Day!

🎭 The featured artist Abhijeet (@bon_abhijeet) is a multimedia artist and drag queen from Mumbai in Chicago. They combine live performance with video, photography, fashion, and event production to create art that is larger than life. Their drag is an exploration of their own intersectional queer and racial identity through a lens of camp, fashion, and classical Bollywood.

🎨 Abhijeet made this compelling tribute to mothers as part of the Ally With Pride series for Desi Rainbow in 2021. To watch the complete video and interview with Abhijeet go to https://ow.ly/uHaY50VQv0P!

#mothersday #maa #amma #ammi #mama #mom #desimom #lgbtqia #desisstandupforallourchildren #desirainbowally

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Inviting all mothers of LGBTQIA+ Desis to join us on Tuesday, May 13th for a special group for Mother's Day! Join us Tuesday, May 13th at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, and 6 p.m. Pacific.

👉 Joining for the first time? You'll need to register at least 2 hours before the event at www.desirainbow.org/lgbtq-info to receive the meeting link. Link in bio.

🥰 Join us in creating a more affirming world for LGBTQIA+ Desis at desirainbow.org/donate

#peersupport #supportgroup #community #virtualsupportgroup #desirainbow #desi #lgbtqia #trans #nonbinary #queer #southasian #family #chosenfamily #acceptance #queerdesi #queersouthasian

🌱 Happy Buddha Jayanti from Desi Rainbow to all LGBTQIA+ community members and families celebrating today!

#LGBTQIA #LGBT #desi #southasian #buddhajayanti #buddhapurnima

Join Desi Rainbow at Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration of the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community, calling for acceptance, inclusion, and equality on Thursday, May 15, in New York! Meet changemakers in South Asian diaspora and join LGBTQIA+ South Asians and allies coming together to support the life-affirming work of Desi Rainbow, a national nonprofit organization serving LGBTQIA+ South Asians and their families.

🧡For information, tickets and to make a donation, visit https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar - link in bio
Details:
🌈A celebration of queer and trans South Asians, benefitting the life saving work of Desi Rainbow, featuring food, drinks, music, dance and spectacular performances in an extraordinarily beautiful venue in the heart of New York!

Hosted by Malai, featuring performances by Sundari, Sikander & Priya!💃🏽🎻
Music by Sri 🎶

📍 One Columbus Circle, NY
📅 Thursday, May 15th, 6:30-10:00 PM
🎟️ https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar

❤️Presenting Sponsor: Deutsche Bank
💜Platinum Sponsor: The Asian American Foundation
💛Gold Sponsor: Goldman Sachs Gives
🤍Silver Sponsors: Nomura, Pretium
🤎Bronze Sponsors: South Asian Impact, The Ramesh & Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, EXL

#loveislove #pyarispyar #pyar #prema #mohabbat #ishq #desiqueer #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #newyork #dragqueen #lgbtqia #desirainbow #nycnightlife

✊ Desi Rainbow’s Advocacy Group is a team of Desi allies and LGBTQIA+ folks who meet every month to review current issues that impact LGBTQIA+ rights, identify actions and find resources.

🪧On May 8th, join your peers in learning about cybersecurity.

✍🏽 Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/DesiRainbowAdvocacy

🌱 Support Desi Rainbow’s work with a donation: https://www.desirainbow.org/donate

#DesiRainbowAlly #Allyship #Desi #LGBTQIA+ #queer #takeaction #advocacy #translivesmatter #TDOV #protecttranskids #desistandupforallourkids

🌈Join Anu Sehgal for Pyar is Pyar on May 15th in New York City!  Anu is a children’s author and the founder of The Culture Tree, a cultural literacy and language education company that focuses on South Asia. She is also a proud and dedicated ally who uses her skill, time and talent to support the LGBTQIA+ community.   🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefitting the work of Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer and trans joy!

Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio

#pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We invite LGBTQIA+ people of South Asian descent to join our virtual Support Group for the LGBTQIA+ community next week! Join us Tuesday, May 6th at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, and 6 p.m. Pacific.

👉 Joining for the first time? You'll need to register at least 2 hours before the event at www.desirainbow.org/lgbtq-info to receive the meeting link.

💟 This is a monthly 90-minute peer-to-peer support and discussion group that's only for LGBTQIA+ Desis 18 and older based in North America/on Turtle Island.

🥰 Join us in creating a more affirming world for LGBTQIA+ Desis at desirainbow.org/donate

#peersupport #supportgroup #community #virtualsupportgroup #desirainbow #desi #lgbtqia #trans #nonbinary #queer #southasian #family #chosenfamily #acceptance #queerdesi #queersouthasian

❤️ Today, we celebrate Lesbian Visibility Day on April 26 to increase visibility, representation, and support for the Desi lesbian community. This includes nonbinary people and transgender women, as both may identify as lesbians as well ❤️

#lesbianvisibilityweek #lesbianvisibilityday #desilesbian #desiqueer #lgbtqia+ #desirainbow

🎉You’re invited! We’re throwing a big, beautiful celebration by and for the queer and trans South Asian community on May 15 in New York, where you can mingle with some of the most inspiring faces in the South Asian community.  
🌈There will be delicious food, drinks, DJ, dancing, drag, music and amazing views, and an atmosphere of joyful solidarity.   Limited spots left due to venue capacity.   🎟️Get your tickets now at https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar.  Link in bio.  #pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

Join Aruna Rao (she/her), founder of Desi Rainbow, proud Mom to a queer and trans son and even prouder Ally and Aunty to the Desi LGBTQIA+ community at Pyar is Pyar on May 15!   Allies and proud family members are needed more than ever at a time when all our kids and the LGBTQIA+ community is under attack. Your support can save lives.  🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefitting the work of Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer and trans joy!

Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio  Can’t make it to NYC on May 15? Buy a ticket or make a donation to bring an LGBTQIA+ community member to the event.  https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio  #pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #priti #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids #proudmom
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🌈Join the amazing Malai for Pyar is Pyar on May 15th in New York City!  Malai is an Indian drag queen who’s name translates in Hindi to ‘cream’. Malai is known for her unique performances that encapsulate ingenious lip-sync performances and stand-up acts. Malai routinely hosts Bollywood drag brunches; and Bollywood dance nights with the queer group Yuva. She is the founder of ‘Queer Brown History’- an online compendium of of archived South-Asian queer histories.   🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefitting the work of Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer and trans joy!

Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio

#pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🐣 Happy Easter to to all our vast and varied Desi LGBTQIA+ Christian diaspora and their families who are celebrating renewal today!
🤎 We wish you all a holiday full of affirmation, peace and unconditional love 🧡

#DesiRainbow #DesiChristian #LGBTQIA+ #lgbt #queer #Easter

🌈Join Becky George (she/her) a movement leader focused on violence prevention, civil rights, and justice, for Pyar is Pyar on May 15th in New York City! Becky is a proud Malayalee and born and bred Texan, a proud child of immigrants, a loud and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, and even prouder wife and mother!  
🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefitting the work of Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer and trans joy!

Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio

#pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🌈Join Sabrina Dhawan (she/her), acclaimed screenwriter for Monsoon Wedding, for a night of everlasting queer and trans ishq on May 15 in New York City!  Sabrina quotes the great Urdu poet Ghalib to celebrate love as resistance.  "One has no power over love, it is that flame, to wit,
Which neither can be set alight, nor extinguished once lit"   🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefitting the work of Desi Rainbow. Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer and trans joy!   Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar
link in bio

#pyarispyar #loveislove #ishq #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🌈Join Rayman Mathoda (she/her), Desi Rainbow Board Chair, a Sikh-American lesbian, multi-time CEO, social entrepreneur and community activist for an exhuberant celebration of queer Desi love in New York on May 15! 
🎉Pyar is Pyar, a proud celebration on May 15th at One Columbus Circle, New York, is an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefiting the work of Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer & trans joy!  🎟️Tickets: https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar link in bio

#pyarispyar #loveislove #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🌱 Happy Ambedkar Jayanti, Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Pana Sankranti, Pohela Baishak, Puthundu, Vishu from Desi Rainbow to all LGBTQIA+ community members and families celebrating today!
🎉 The traditional New Year in many parts of South Asia is celebrated as a time of renewal. We also celebrate the 135th birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and his legacy and contributions.
🌈 We celebrate new beginnings and look forward to a year of intergenerational allyship and growth.

#DesiNewYear #LGBTQIA #LGBT #desi #southasian #Baisakhi #Puthundu, #BohagBihu #AmbedkarJayanti #pohelaboishakh Baishak #PanaSankranti #Vishu #PanaSankranti

Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on April 10 on behalf of eight organizations that serve LGBTQIA+ Muslims and their families, including Desi Rainbow. The brief is in support of Montgomery County Public Schools’ decision to include LGBTQIA+ inclusive storybooks in elementary language arts classes.

Including LGBTQIA+ affirming storybooks in public school curriculum promotes inclusive education and protects the dignity and rights of all LGBTQIA+ people. Freedom of religion should not be used as an excuse to restrict inclusive educational materials that benefit all students. Granting religious opt-outs would cause direct harm to LGBTQIA+ and Muslim students by reinforcing harmful stereotypes and social stigmas. Desi Rainbow affirms that LGBTQIA+ Muslims are a vital part of our communities and deserve to see themselves reflected in public life – including school curriculum.

#DesisStandUpForAllOurKids

We’re excited to announce that ALOK (they/them) – an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and speaker - is a host for Pyar is Pyar! Alok’s work and visibility has broken barriers for the trans and non-binary South Asian community.  
Join Alok on May 15th at the Deutsche Bank Center in New York for an evening celebrating the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community and benefiting Desi Rainbow! Featuring food, drinks, dancing, and entertainment with a huge helping of queer & trans joy! 
https://givebutter.com/PyarIsPyar Ticket link in bio. #pyarispyar #loveislove #pyar #prema #mohabbat #desirainbow #desirainbowally #desisstandupforallourkids
#bollywoodparty #nycnightlife #dj #queer #trans #lgbtq #lgbtqia #instagay #nycgay #nycevent #nyc #newyorkcity #desi #bollywood #newyork #dragqueen #dragrace #lgbtqia

🎬 🍿 Go see 'A Nice Indian Boy' this weekend! 🎬 🍿

The director Roshan Sethi is one of the very few gay Desi men to get an opportunity to direct a mainstream film featuring an almost all Desi cast. He is thoughtful, funny and hugely supportive of Desi Rainbow's mission. The films success in the theaters will determine future opportunities for queer Desi’s like him to make films. We are asking the Desi Rainbow community to support the film and Roshan (who is also a host for our Pyar is Pyar celebration!) by watching the film in theaters this weekend as it opens April 4. Take a picture and tag @desirainbowparents and @aniceindianboyfilm with #pyarispyar!

🎟️ You can find out if it’s playing near you and buy tickets at https://aniceindianboy.com/buy-tickets 🎟️

#aniceindianboy #desigay #desiqueer #pyarispyar #desirainbow #LGBTQIA #LGBT

Join our monthly peer support group on Tuesday, April 8, at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, and 6 p.m. Pacific for Desi parents, siblings, grandparents, and anyone who wants to learn and support their LGBTQIA+ family member(s).

👉If it's your first time joining, you'll need to register at www.desirainbow.org/family-info (linktree)

👉This is a monthly 90-minute peer-to-peer support and discussion group that's only for parents and allied family members of LGBTQIA+ South Asians. The group will be led by parents who have navigated their journey of acceptance with their own children. Allied family members at all stages of acceptance - from having just found out about your child's or loved one's identity to having known for years - are welcome to join this safe and nurturing space for families.

#peersupport #supportgroup #community #virtualsupportgroup #desirainbow #desifamily #desiparents #desigrandparents #desisibling #queer #lgbtqia #trans #nonbinary #southasian #ally #queerdesi #queersouthasian

🌙 🤲🏼��🎁Eid Mubarak from Desi Rainbow to all LGBTQIA+ Muslims and families celebrating Eid al Fitr!
🤎We wish you all a holiday full of affirmation, peace and unconditional love. 🧡

#EidMubarak #Eid #LGBTQIA #LGBT #Queer #Desi

🌱Ugadi habbada shubhashayagalu, Ugādi śubhākāṅkṣalu, Gudi Padwa Nav Varshabhinandan from Desi Rainbow to all LGBTQIA+ community members and families celebrating today! 🎉The traditional New Year in many parts of South Asia is celebrated as a time of renewal. 🤎Desi Rainbow is preparing for a year that will include both joy and sorrow, sweet and bitter in equal measure. 🌈We celebrate new beginnings and look forward to a year of intergenerational allyship and growth.

#DesiNewYear #LGBTQIA #LGBT #allyship #desi #southasian #Ugadi #GudiPadwa

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ We invite LGBTQIA+ people of South Asian descent to join our virtual Support Group for the LGBTQIA+ community next week! Join us Tuesday, April 1st at 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 p.m. Central, and 6 p.m. Pacific.

👉 Joining for the first time? You'll need to register at least 2 hours before the event at www.desirainbow.org/lgbtq-info to receive the meeting link.

💟 This is a monthly 90-minute peer-to-peer support and discussion group that's only for LGBTQIA+ Desis 18 and older based in North America/on Turtle Island.

🥰 Join us in creating a more affirming world for LGBTQIA+ Desis at desirainbow.org/donate

#peersupport #supportgroup #community #virtualsupportgroup #desirainbow #desi #lgbtqia #trans #nonbinary #queer #southasian #family #chosenfamily #acceptance #queerdesi #queersouthasian

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@desirainbowparents

Promoting Family Acceptance in the Desi Community

"It was a great experience to be able to talk to someone about what has been on my mind and was nice to know that community exists."

​

Promoting
Family Acceptance
in the Desi Community