I researched three LGBTQ+ related organizations that connect to the larger umbrella term of “South Asian” or “Brown/Desi” in order to gain insight of the work that is actively being done to enhance the lives of some of the most invalidated individuals who tend to go under the radar far too often. 

HIDYA LGBTQI+ is an organization that revolves around helping LGBTQ+ Muslims feel validated. Their opening line on their website is “help us guide those that need our help, learn more about the issues our community face, and the work we do to help those in need.” This org was founded in the United Kingdom in 2017 and has recently branched into the United States. It strives to make education more accessible and promotes social justice. Queer Muslims are an underrepresented group and quite stigmatized. They usually feel alienated from both their Queerness and their Muslim identity as they are usually told that these two identities cannot co-exist. From the mentor programs offered by HIDYA LGBTQI+ that assist muslims who are struggling with navigating their sexuality to workshops and events that help the community members find people they share this marginalized identity with- this org has helped make the experiences of some of the most vulnerable within the West a little easier. 

Sarbat is an organization that uplifts Queer Sikhs and raises awareness about issues relating to homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, etc. The org wants to “build bridges” within their communities and outside of them. Sarbat hosts book clubs online and also holds events both virtually and in person so Queer Sikhs are able to feel a sense of belonging and comfort through this org no matter where they reside. Another noteworthy component is that Sarbat is inclusive of the various intersections that exist and they do not treat all Sikh LGBTQ+ as being homologous. They factor in gender, class, caste, and other Panjabi identities but also incorporate diverse media, literature, etc. from other groups. This organization is productively moving towards our collective liberation while celebrating and amplifying the existence of Sikhs who are part of the community.

Queer Tamil Collective is an org that prioritizes the most vulnerable within the Tamil community. “Tamil” refers to individuals pertaining to Tamil nadu and Tamil Eelam. This organization was formed by a group of Diaspora Tamil folks. They center Dalit and Muslim Tamils. “Dalit” is the term that is used to refer to the lowest rank in the Indian caste system, these folks are marginalized by caste identity. Muslims are a religious minority back home and even within the West, there is bias against them from the larger South Asian Diaspora population, including in the context of the Tamil Diaspora specifically. QTC views everything from a lens that is anti-oppression and pro-land back. They value access and authentic equity which proves to bring direct material change to suppressed LGBTQ+ Tamil individuals. Queer Tamil Collective is working towards a reality where every oppressed individual is thriving rather than surviving to get their basic needs met.

These three organizations, amongst many others, seem to be putting in a lot of time, energy, and labor to ensure that members of the LGBTQ+ community feel at home in a world that attempts to strip them of the varying identities that make these individuals who they are. Be sure to check them out and support them:)