Nazariya
With a focus on queer women and trans persons, this Delhi-based Queer Feminist Resource Group was formed in October 2014 with a view make the LGBTQIA+ lives visible. They advocate for access to resources and equal opportunities, and work towards development of a non-discriminatory environment, through research & evaluations, awareness and capacity building, and advocacy.
Tarshi
For over 25 years, Tarshi has been conducting trainings, developing publications, participating in public awareness and education initiatives, and providing technical support for advocacy initiatives, on sexual and reproductive health. They are also currently working towards creating rights-based Safe, Inclusive, Sexuality-Affirming (SISA) spaces.
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Naz Foundation
Started by Anjali Gopalan in 1994 to address issues of HIV/AIDS and sexuality, they conduct sessions to help individuals and community-based organizations understand sexuality and mainstream HIV in their program. With a focus on advocacy, Naz successfully challenged the archaic law of Section 377 under the Indian Penal Code which criminalised homosexuality.
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The PinkList India
Situated in the intersection of politics, queerness and technology, PinkList is India’s first archive of politicians supporting LGBTQIA+ rights, with an aim to push for accountability and transparency from elected representatives. They also actively collate information on how we can support the community, such as, pride fundraisers, queer-dedicated COVID-19 relief efforts.
Harmless Hugs
This queer collective of Delhi aims to create a discrimination-free zone for everyone, regardless of their gender and sexuality, through creative awareness and sensitisation programs. They organized the first LGBT Flashmob in Delhi in 2015. They also regularly organize Tarang – Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival, Queer Holi, meetups, informative sessions and plays.
Bi Collective
Bi Collective is a resource and support group for bisexual, bi+, bi-curious, and pansexual people in and around Delhi, that aims to answer questions around sexuality and to encourage open discussions. Some of the initiatives taken are the ‘Bi Collective Library’ and ‘Sexuality and multiplicity: A comic-making workshop’. Recently Bi Collective started a podcast named ‘Passing Bi’ on Spotify.
Indian Aces
Founded in 2014, this was India’s first support group for asexual people. It has won multiple awards and grants. The organisation was started to inform people about asexuality, but it has expanded itself into a space that represents the LGBTQIA+ community at large. It encourages discussions on topics like gender, sexuality, and diversity.
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TWEET Foundation
Led by seven trans activists, Transgender Welfare Equity and Empowerment Trust (TWEET) works towards the welfare of trans persons, their education, medical treatment, legal standing, and culture and social upliftment. They do this through advocacy, capacity-building, skill building, health and legal support, corporate placement support and events/activities.
Vikalp/Parma
One of the very few organizations in India that reaches queer women and trans men from rural & tribal communities. Vikalp evolved at the intersection of class, caste, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation, intervening in the everyday lives of marginalized women and LBT people in Gujarat. In 2003, they created Parma, a project that works to protect and promote the human rights of people with non-normative genders and sexualities, particularly working-class queer women and trans men from urban, rural and tribal regions. Parma engages in base-building and organizing, provides crisis support and counselling to LBTI people leaving situations of family violence & forced marriage, and runs training and consultancy programs for the community and broader society.
Sappho for Equalit
Founded in 2003 in Kolkata, Sappho for Equality aims to help the sexually marginalized women and female to male trans persons in getting their rights and an equal status in the society. They are an Activist Forum for Lesbian, Bisexual Woman and Transman Rights. They run counselling, health services, crisis intervention, self-help workshops, group meetings and social clubs, film festivals, seminars, along with a Sexuality Resource Centre – Chetana and a biannual bilingual magazine – Swakanthey (one’s own voice).
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Sangama
Founded by Manohar Elavarthi in Bangalore in 1999, Sanagama is dedicated to linking 'sexuality, sexual preference and gender identity into the realm of public discourse'. It provides advocacy to sexual minorities and research materials to scholars of LGBT issues. They hold reach-out programs for the sexual minorities, welcome drop-ins, keep a track of LGBT violence in and around the city and provide legal services. It also raised funds during COVID-19 relief.
Srishti Madurai
Established in 2011 by Gopi Shankar, Srishti became the first genderqueer & LGBTQIA+ student volunteer group designed to specifically target the problems of queer people in non-metro cities of Tamil Nadu, and educate people about gender politics, and gender and sexuality. It worked as a Genderqueer & LGBTQIA Literature, Research & Resource Circle to build resources on Genderqueer & LGBTQIA+ community in regional language with theoretical base in pan cultural context of India. It provides a 24×7 helpline and face-to-face counselling for the community. The organisation also conducts workshops and seminars for school children.
PeriFerry
A Chennai-based ‘social entrepreneurship initiative’ that empowers transgender individuals with employment and skilling opportunities. It acts as a platform to connect inclusive employers with potential transgender employees. They also promote and advise on LGBTIQ+ sensitization in workplaces.
QueerAbad
Founded by Anahita Sarabhai and Shamini Kothari in Ahmedabad, Gujrat. They host meetings, talks and activities, featuring everything from spoken word performances and erotica film screenings, and the popular ‘Ask What You Will’ and ‘Be Seen’ events. They also organize events hosting gender non-conforming artists, organise the biggest Pride event in Ahmedabad and distribute awareness-building booklets in Gujarati.
Queerythm
This community-based organization began as a support group for LGBTIQ people in Trivandrum, Kerala providing regular monthly meetings. The organization helps LGBTQI community in every way it can from organizing visibility programmes to lending a helping hand to individual members by providing support for employment.
Sahayatrika
Sahayathrika is an organization catering to lesbian/bisexual women and transgender persons of Kerala origin. The organization mainly provides a support group, works on counselling, community-organizing and survival of women from gender and sexual minorities. The organisation also collaborates on LGBT public awareness-building programs.
Queer Arts Movement, India (QAMI)
Founded in 2014 in Bengaluru, the movement aims to give Queer Artists from cities and towns across India, a friendly platform to share their talent. QAMI aims to bring the queer movement in the country to a larger mainstream; through performing arts and conscious dialogue
Queer India Collective
Formerly known as Bangalore Queer Collective, the Queer India Collective aims to build a bridge between society and the queer community, and to create outreach and engagement within the community, through media, arts and entertainment. They raise awareness on ChemSex, HIV, sexual health practices, creating shelter spaces and mental health.
Voices Against 377
‘Voices Against 377’ is a coalition of 12 NGOs and progressive groups based in Delhi. It is a point of intersection and dialogue between various social movements that these groups represent, where a united voice was being articulated against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.
LABIA
Lesbians & Bisexuals in Action: LABIA, which formerly was known as Stree Sangam, is a Mumbai-based voluntary collective of lesbian and bisexual women and transpersons, with their focus on delving deep into the queer and feminist activism by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Their collective aim is to discuss the rights of the women and queer community.
Qashti
QASHTI is a feminist collective of Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer people assigned female at birth founded in 2011, based out of Delhi. Through organizing a wide variety of social events and running an LBTQI-focussed helpline, they work to build an intentional social space and resource centre for LBTQI people.
(Wednesday 7-9 pm. Saturday 4-7 pm)
Sahayatrika
Sahayathrika is an organization catering to lesbian/bisexual women and transgender persons of Kerala origin. The organization mainly provides a support group, works on counselling, community-organizing and survival of women from gender and sexual minorities. The organisation also collaborates on LGBT public awareness-building programs.
Sangini (India) Trust
Set up in 1997, under the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, Sangini is an NGO based in New Delhi, for and by the LBT community, specifically working for women attracted to women and individuals dealing with their gender identity (F to M). They provide 24/7 emergency response services to LBT individuals whose human rights are being violated.
The Humsafar Trust
Started in 1994 in Mumbai, the Humsafar Trust organizes advocacy workshops for legislators, politicians, media - among others - to sensitise them on issues related to the queer community. They collaborate with public health delivery systems of Mumbai and have operated regular in-house clinics. They have also set up various sub-organisations, such as ‘Gaurav’ for male sex workers, ‘Kinnar Kasturi’ and ‘Kinnar Asmita’ for transgenders, ‘Sanjeevani’ for MSM and transgenders with HIV, and ‘Umang’ and ‘Yaariyan’ for LBT and LGBT persons respectively.
MINGLE or Mission for Indian Gay & Lesbian Empowerment
It is a non-profit advocacy group working towards the uplifting of the community. It consists of an entire think-tank of academicians, students and professionals from varied fields and a common vision of a liberal India where the citizens lead a safe, secure and dignified life irrespective of their gender or sexuality.
Just cling
It is an Indian app which is committed towards serving the LGBTQ community members. It helps people belonging to the spectrum discover, befriend and identify with other people with shared interests, zest for life, and worldview.
As You Are (AYA)
Is a Indian developed social networking and dating app specifically for Indian LGBTQ+ community. It aims to offer a “no-pressure zone” and a safe space for people to keep their identity confidential and make connections at the same time.