Mozez Singh turns host with Audible Suno’s definitive LGBTQ podcast

Writer, director, producer, product designer, entrepreneur—Mozez Singh wears a lot of hats but is nowhere close to being done. Always the one to keep experimenting, he’s now turned podcast host with Amazon Audible Suno’s new show, Azaad Awaaz. With conversations around drag culture, the legal fight against Section 377, homophobia, and parents coming to terms… Continue reading Mozez Singh turns host with Audible Suno’s definitive LGBTQ podcast

Actor-turned-author Maulik Pancholy on why pop culture representation matters

Growing up in various states across America, Maulik Pancholy, like many other first-generation immigrant kids, was conscious of being culturally “different” from his schoolmates. And on trips back to India, it would become instantly obvious that he was American. It didn’t help that there was virtually no representation in pop culture that Maulik Pancholy could… Continue reading Actor-turned-author Maulik Pancholy on why pop culture representation matters

By standing up for the things that matter, Levi’s goes beyond fashion

For over 160 years, Levi’s has been a name synonymous with rock ‘n’ roll, counterculture, and effortless style. Apart from being a household name and an on-trend brand, Levi’s has successfully managed to remain ethical and inclusive throughout its journey. From the company’s fight towards ethical production of garments in 1991 to being the first… Continue reading By standing up for the things that matter, Levi’s goes beyond fashion

#ELLEect: This new portal lists LGBTQ-friendly politicians contesting the elections

Is your local candidate homophobic or supportive of the LGBTQ community? A new website, www.pinklistindia.com, has done the research for you. It’s a comprehensive guide to all the politicians contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections who have publicly come out as queer and trans inclusive. “There was a need to go beyond high-profile politicians who… Continue reading #ELLEect: This new portal lists LGBTQ-friendly politicians contesting the elections

The failings of the Transgender Persons Bill in its current form

I never really understood the full import of the need for transgender rights to be legislated till I heard 26-year-old Khushi Sheikh’s story. This strikingly beautiful bar dancer, who looks a lot like Aishwarya Rai, was gang-raped by policemen inside a police station in Ajmer in 2012. Khushi, accompanied by other hijras who considered her… Continue reading The failings of the Transgender Persons Bill in its current form

A coming-out film set in small-town India is making waves

In February last year, a crowd-funded Indian independent film premiered at the Mardi Gras film festival in Sydney. The movie, Evening Shadows struck a chord for its portrayal of the LGBTQ community and its experiences. The slice-of-life film deals with the dilemma faced by an orthodox family in a small town in South India, when… Continue reading A coming-out film set in small-town India is making waves

Section 377 verdict: Supreme Court declares homosexuality is no longer a crime in India

Section 377 verdict: In India’s journey towards being a woke nation, today’s events play an important role. In a landmark, progressive judgement, the Supreme Court has just decriminalised homosexuality by repealing Section 377. “Progressive and pragmatic view should be taken by the court to come to the rescue of the oppressed section of society. The law… Continue reading Section 377 verdict: Supreme Court declares homosexuality is no longer a crime in India

Team ELLE’s promise to the LGBTQ community

At ELLE, we believe in opening up the universe a little more.Isn’t that what FREEDOM really means?Isn’t that what LOVE really is?Not who, but how much? 71 years after independence, India’s LGBTQ community is on the cusp of WINNING a historic fight: its decades-long struggle against SECTION 377 of the Indian Penal Code. How does… Continue reading Team ELLE’s promise to the LGBTQ community

The crowd-sourced list of campus groups that help women, LGBT and dalit communities

Leaving the comfort of your school and home and stepping into college can be an overwhelming experience. Especially if you belong to a minority community that can be discriminated against. To make the search for a support group easier, digital platform Feminism in India (FII) has just launched a crowd-sourced list of on campus feminist,… Continue reading The crowd-sourced list of campus groups that help women, LGBT and dalit communities

As SC decides on section 377, here’s your guide to understanding different sexualities

If you’re reading this, we can safely assume you don’t have a fundamental issue with the *existence* of LGBTQ folks. And that you want to understand the subject of sexuality a little more. We feel you — the various sexual orientations can often be hard to navigate for those who identify as straight. Section 377 of the… Continue reading As SC decides on section 377, here’s your guide to understanding different sexualities

The new portal helping the LGBTQ community find healthcare and legal aid without fear of discrimination

Being gay in India means relatives suggesting a ‘cure’ for your err, orientation, and friends who may not always understand your state of mind. Even a regular check-up at your doctor could go south if he/she isn’t equipped to understand your sexual orientation and lifestyle. And let’s not forget, Section 377 makes homosexuality a crime… Continue reading The new portal helping the LGBTQ community find healthcare and legal aid without fear of discrimination

How IIT Bombay’s queer resource group, Saathi, is repping the LGBTQ experience

Growing up queer can be hard. There are few resources one can tap into, and virtually no safe spaces outside of monthly events held by a few equal rights organisations. And then there’s college, which can feel like navigating a minefield of peer pressure and ridicule as a walking-talking cocktail of conflicted hormones for anyone… Continue reading How IIT Bombay’s queer resource group, Saathi, is repping the LGBTQ experience

50 best LGBTQ movies ever made

Movies teach us how to be. We learn morals, ethical lessons, how to interact with others, how to fall in and out of love. And we learn from movies how to view others — and how to view ourselves. This has been truly evident in how film has depicted queer characters from its earliest days as… Continue reading 50 best LGBTQ movies ever made

The Christopher Bailey Burberry era ends with an LGBTQ-inspired collection

In his final move as President and Chief Creative Officer, the Christopher Bailey Burberry era will wind down with an AW18 collection dedicated to LGBTQ. After a 17-year stint, Bailey is exiting the British heritage brand with the most powerful move for diversity we’ve seen from the fashion industry in a long time. “My final collection… Continue reading The Christopher Bailey Burberry era ends with an LGBTQ-inspired collection

Non-binary, genderqueer and other gender identities you need to know

Growing up in Goa, ‘bailem’ (pronounced buy-leh) was a term I heard a lot. It’s the Konkani equivalent to pansy, fairy, queen, faggot or any of the insults that stem from a lack of education or shameless intolerance. As a straight girl, it was just a word I avoided using. Not that I made a… Continue reading Non-binary, genderqueer and other gender identities you need to know

Why it’s more important than ever for the LGBT community to come out of the closet

A few years ago, when the world believed that India might be a tolerant place, progressive even, accessory label Fastrack released a commercial that was hailed by the hip and queer everywhere. A bright pink closet shudders at the centre of the screen. When the double doors open, an attractively tousled girl in a flouncy… Continue reading Why it’s more important than ever for the LGBT community to come out of the closet

#MyVanityFairCover trends

Caitlyn Jenner’s cover for Vanity Fair sparked off some fantastic conversations. We were given a chance to learn about the issues that transgenders face on a daily basis. For instance, the politics of the pronoun—how do you refer to someone who has changed her gender? You refer to them by the pronoun of the new… Continue reading #MyVanityFairCover trends

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