June is officially recognised as Pride Month around the world – a month where we celebrate the queer community. However, it is common knowledge that it wasn’t easy reaching this place wherein one can hold Pride marches and host gay parties. While, today, companies may willingly display rainbows in their logos and Instagram bios, there was a time when LGBT+ folks couldn’t enter many establishments. And in India, it was even worse. However, there have been many Indians from showbiz who have fought the good fight and have helped us get to this place today. The entertainment and fashion industries are often seen as safe spaces for queer people because of the open-mindedness of the members of the fraternity. While there are many in these two industries who have campaigned for gay rights, on Pride Month, we celebrate a few of them. Take a look…
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An out and proud gay filmmaker, Onir has been instrumental in ensuring senstive queer characters and relationships on the silver screen through his films, My Brother… Nikhil and I Am.
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Asrani is a gay film editor and screenwriter who is the winner of a National Award and a Filmfare Award. He wrote the superb Aligarh which was based on a real-life story and worked on Made in Heaven which also portrays a queer character. He’s also vocal on social media about the issues queer folks face.
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One of the most celebrated Bengali filmmakers since Satyajit Ray, Ghosh lived his life openly as a queer personality and gave us iconic movies like Unishe April, Chokher Bali, Raincoat and Chitrangada and worked towards making the community heard.
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While there are many in the fashion industry who are openly queer, Arora is recognised as the John Galliano of India and has taken Indian fashion to the global stage like no one has. He has made sure representation becomes mainstream.
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Riyad Vinci Wadia is credited with making India’s first gay-themed movie called Bomgay. He lives his life openly and was an instrumental part of Mumbai’s gay subculture in the 90s.
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One of India’s most celebrated fashion designers, Rodricks lived his life as an openly gay man and was an iconic gay rights activist. He was also conferred with the Padma Shri amongst other honours.
ML Entertainment