On June 21, the Dallas Social Queer Organization organized Pride ka Chand, a community event which celebrated the intersectionality of queer South Asians.
Located at Roundup Saloon, this event featured multiple performing artists dressed glamorously, attracting an audience diverse in age, gender and race. Mirroring traditional Indian setups, higher stools surrounded a low stage in the center of the room. Performers recited poetry accompanied by a veena, an ancient Indian four stringed instrument, and stand-up comedians joked about the satirical experience of being a queer desi.
The event was anchored by Lady Bushra, an international drag artist known for her wits, humor and ability to engage audiences. The audience was diverse and for one night, being loud, dressy, visible, opinionated and yourself was embraced.
Among the audience was Ayushi Sharma, a fintech graduate from UTD’s class of 2025 who echoed similar thoughts when asked about her overall feelings towards the event.
“What I liked at the event was how confident these people were in their skin,” Sharma said. “It’s not common to see desi people so confident and unapologetic. They were owning their truth so well — that is what I took away from the event.”
The joy and hardships of being queer and desi could perhaps be considered the two sides of a coin. For some, one country of origin for Dallas desi groups, India, serves as an unfortunate model. Two centuries of British colonization brought deep rooted discomfort with homosexuality to India, tainting the lens of Indians who previously lived in a gender-fluid society.
Examples of India’s rich, queer history are visible everywhere. The Khajuraho temple located in Madhya Pradesh is known for its same-sex and erotic sculptures which have existed since the ninth century. Even the Mahabharata, a fundamental Hindu epic written thousands of years ago, includes a character named Shikhandi who is widely recognized as transgender.
The stigmas that lead to discrimination against queer communities are the remnants of a post-colonial India. Many choose never to disclose these truths in the fear of being banished by their community. The ones that do struggle to access jobs and opportunities.
“I don’t know if I maintain my authenticity that well but I think the main thing is trying to find friends or other people in my life that bridge the gap between those two things,” sophomore Nithya B said. “I have a hard time being authentic when I am with a South Asian group versus when with just a group of queer people because those two things are so strongly interlinked that I have to ignore one of them for being in a specific space. I am very grateful to have people in my life who bridge both of those gaps.”
An anonymous student expressed that growing up queer in Dallas was a positive experience for her although she knows many who are targeted for a similar identity.
“I think for me it was a unique experience because I grew up in such a diverse area that I always knew many people of color and queer people who were not particularly widely accepted, but it was diverse so I did not have too much of a divide between my identities,” the student said. “But of course in the South Asian community, sometimes it’s harder to truly embrace the queer aspect and vice versa. I was lucky to have found a lot of friends that had similar experiences so it was easier to find a community that was more accepting. ”
Events like Pride ka Chand are perfect to bridge the gap to authenticity. Even mere awareness that a community exists where queer individuals can be entirely themselves spreads hope.
“It was a beautiful event,” Sharma said. “These people were so talented. They were doing what they love and that really made an impression on me.”