Timeline of South Asian and diasporic LGBTQ history

400 BCE - 200 BCE • Sculptures on temples and artwork from around 500 BC in Lanka depict liberal views on sexuality and homosexuality. • Vatsyayana's The Kama Sutra devotes an entire chapter to homosexuality with explicit detailed instructions on how to perform homosexual acts. 3rd century BC to c. 4th century AD • Tamil Sangam literature refers to relationships between two men and explores the lives of trans women in the Aravan cult in Koovagam village in Tamil Nadu. ~1529 • Emperor Babur's memoirs, the Baburnama, include a recollection of a supposed homoerotic relationship with a teenage boy. 1750-1830 • Emergence of Rekhti chapti-namahs, or female non-sexual homosocial narratives, in Urdu poetry. 1861 • Anti-sodomy section of Offences against the Person Act 1861 imposed on entire British Empire, that says "Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable Crime of Buggery, committed either with Mankind or with any Animal, shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Ten Years." This section is credited with giving birth to the controversial Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. 1871 • Hijras labeled a "criminal tribe" under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, meaning they could be arrested as criminals anywhere in British India. 1897 • Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 amended, with the subtitle "An Act for the Registration of Criminal Tribes and Eunuchs", ordering that "criminal" eunuchs "dressed or ornamented like a woman in a public street… be arrested without warrant" and imprisoned. 1918 • Earliest known records of South Asian MSM in North America, as Tara Singh and Jamil Singh are separately arrested for interracial sodomy in Sacramento, CA. 1922 • Poems Written in Prison by Gopabandhu Das, a freedom fighter and Gandhian, is published. At least two poems address male friends and co-workers, and the author describes these relationships in terms that are intense and erotically charged though not overtly sexual. These poems are sometimes included in Odia language literature textbooks. 1924 • "Chocolate", a short story in Hindi written by nationalist and social reformer Pandey Bechan Sharma (under the penname Ugra), is published in the nationalist newspaper Matvala. Ugra's crusade against male-to-male sex sparks debate in Hindi newspapers and magazines, resulting in perhaps the first public debate in Hindi on homosexuality. 1929 • Mahatma Gandhi speaks out against same-sex relations in a Young India letter, in response to queries on "unnatural vices" in schools. 1945 • Ismat Chughtai publishes her semi-autobiographical Tehri Lakeer ("The Crooked Line"), an Urdu novel that does not shy away from sexuality and depiction of same-sex attraction. 1962 • Rajendra Yadav, a leading Hindi novelist, publishes his story "Prateeksha" ("Waiting") that depicts a homosexual relation between two women without censure and in detail. 1968 • Bhupen Khakhar, a successful painter and writer of Gujarati fiction, and one of the few who is openly homosexual, writes an untitled story depicting bisexuality in a quotidian, lower middle-class context. ==1970s==

~1970s • Gay Scene journal published in Calcutta (only a few issues published) 1972 • Indian poet Kamala Das serialized her semi-fictionalized autobiography My Story in 1972, creating a minor scandal. The autobiography revealed her extramarital heterosexual affairs and her adolescent crush on a female teacher and a brief lesbian encounter with an older student. It was first published as a book in Malayalam in 1973, followed by an edited English version in 1976. 1974 • Malayalam novel Randu Penkuttikal ("Two Girls") by V. T. Nandakumar is published in India. The novel gives a positive picture of lesbian relationships in Kerala, and became very popular among young women. 1979 • Begum Barve, a Marathi play written and directed by Satish Alekar, is performed for the first time by Theatre Academy, Pune, at Shriram Centre in New Delhi. Begum Barve, the central character, plays female parts and desires to live a woman's life. • The story "A Double Life" by well known Rajasthani author Vijay Dan Detha is published, depicting a romantic-sexual relationship between two women "married" to each other in rural Rajasthan. ==1980s==

Late 1970s / early 1980s • Partner, a one-act play written by Dr. Anand Nadkarni, explores the relationship between two male hostel inmates in love, and the complications when one of them gets married • The Delhi Group formed; Red Rose Rendezvous Group started. Indian women in Delhi active in creating spaces, dialogue, or research: Giti, Kanchana, Gita, Abha, and Paola • "Mitrachi Goshta", a lesbian theme play in Marathi written by eminent playwright Vijay Tendulkar opens in Mumbai and Thane. The play portrays the inner conflict of a woman who realizes she is lesbian. It was well received, and ran for 26 shows. (15 August) Uma established the first Lesbian Line in Australia in the early 1980s, and later served on ILGA's World Board as the Regional Representative Oceania. • Article in Spare Rib, a grassroots British feminist magazine, "...NO, WE NEVER GO OUT OF FASHION ... FOR EACH OTHER!" Interview with Audre Lorde, Dorothea, Jackie Kay and Uma. • Vikram Seth writes in the poem "Dubious", which appears in his first collection Mappings, about bisexuality: "In the strict ranks of Gay and Straight / What is my status? / Stray? or Great?" • HAC Asian Theatre tours On the Road to Nowhere with sketches and visuals on race, power, sexuality, gender non-conforming roles, being gay, to Asian audiences that cause a press storm and calls for censorship. 1984 • Zami, first Canadian group formed for Black and West Indian gays and lesbians (Toronto). 1985 • Anamika, a newsletter for South Asian lesbians and queer women publishes the first of its three issues, mailed free to women in South Asia. • Films: My Beautiful Laundrette directed by Stephen Frears, based on a screenplay written by Hanif Kureishi, depicts an interracial relationship between two men. • Books: "The Conversations of Cow" by Suniti Namjoshi (some references to first publication in 1984) 1986 • First case of HIV reported in India, in Chennai. • Trikon (later renamed Trikone) is formed by Arvind Kumar and Suvir, and print newsletter established • First issue of Trikon newsletter, editors Arvind Kumar and Suvir (January) • Ashok Row Kavi discusses his homosexuality in Savvy magazine (February) • Hijra conference in Bhopal, India (April) • Trikone marches in San Francisco Pride parade for the first time ever (June). • Trikone Los Angeles (later Satrang) formed (Nov) • Trikone Chicago (later Sangat, and then reformed Trikone Chicago) formed by Ifti Nasim (Dec) • Conditions: Thirteen publishes interview with Khayal and Utsa, "There Are, Always Have Been, Always Will Be Lesbians in India". • Kanchana researches Hindu text for women loving women references. • Books • Flesh and Paper by Suniti Namoshi and Gillian Eve Hanscombe 1987 • Sneha Sangam gay group forms in Bangalore • Society magazine in India prints a story about Trikone • Khush, an organization that created safe spaces for South Asian gays and lesbians in Toronto was formed (July). • Trikon becomes incorporated as Trikone (Nov) • Bhopal policewomen Lila and Urmila marry with religious priest and get fired from police job (Dec) • Village teachers Aruna Sombhai Jaisinghbhai Gohil, aged 31, and Sudha Amarsinh Mohansinh Ratanwadia, aged 29, entered maitri karar (friendship agreement) before a notary public in 1987 after nine years together • SAGALG set up by Shivananda Khan and Poulomi Desai which later becomes Shakti • Books • Between the Lines: An Anthology by Pacific/Asian lesbians of Santa Cruz, California includes Anu's chapter "Sexuality, Lesbianism, and South Asian Feminism" • Trikone (San Francisco), Khush (Toronto), Shakti (London) and Urvashi Vaid make the Illustrated Weekly of India. (September) • First Shakti Bhangra disco in London organised by Shivananda Khan, Poulomi Desai with DJ Ritu. Seed funding given to Shakti by the Ealing Race Equality Unit. (Oct) • Gita Darji and Kishori Shah RIP • Khush organizes Salaam Toronto! Festival (May) • Urvashi Vaid becomes executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (July) • South Asian AIDS Coalition (later ASAAP) formed in Toronto (Jul) • Khush and gay Asians organize Unity Among Asians conference in Toronto • "Salaam Toronto" conference • South Asian Gay Association formed by 12 South Asians ==1990s==

1990 • Red Rose Meetings start in New Delhi for gay men • Indian lesbians attend Asian Lesbian Network conference in Bangkok • Shamakami newsletter for South Asian lesbian and bi women comes out (Jun) • India's first gay magazine, Bombay Dost, founded by Ashok Row Kavi (Jun) • Freedom newsletter published in Gulbarga (Sep) • Desh Pardesh (1990 - 2001, multidisciplinary queer South Asian arts festival in Toronto, Ontario). See citation for oral history project about the festival. • Vandana Cibbal and Simmi Kapoor RIP • Flesh and Paper by Pratibha Parmar about Suniti Namjoshi • Books: • Trying to Grow by Firdaus Kanga 1991 • South Asian Gay Association in New York City changes name to South Asian Lesbian Gay Association (SALGA) as more women join (Feb) • Sakhi formed in New Delhi (Jul) • Salaam (Queer Muslims in Canada) founded by El-Farouk Khaki in Toronto • AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) publishes "Less than Gay", the first citizen's report on homosexuality in India (Nov) • Pravartak published in Calcutta • Films: • Bolo! Bolo! By Gita Saxena and Ian Rashid • ''Eunuchs: India's Third Gender'' by Michael Yorke for BBC • Khush – landmark doc by Pratibha Parmar • Khush Refugees by Nidhi Singh 1992 • Companions on a Journey founded by Sherman de Rose in Sri Lanka • Activist Siddhartha Gautam, a lawyer who founded the AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) in 1989–90 to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS and protest discriminatory policies, passes away in New Delhi at age 28. • Udaan founded in Mumbai to work with MSM • Atish Network formed in Vancouver • SALGA marches in New York's India Day parade • Books: • Invisible Minority – The Unknown World of the Indian Homosexual by Arvind Kala 1993 • Friends of Siddhartha Gautam organize a film festival in Delhi in his memory. • Discovery '93, the Khush gay men's conference in Toronto • Sami Yoni, a journal for lesbians of South Asian descent, published in Toronto. • Khush-list born on harvard.edu listserv by Devesh Khatu and Marty • Counsel Club formed in Calcutta • Aarambh newsletter/magazine debuts in New Delhi (need better reference) • Trikone Atlanta born • Samraksha AIDS organization formed in Bangalore (Dec) • Modern-day traditional wedding Aditya Advani and Michael Tarr performed by Swami Bodhananda • Books: • Queer Looks edited by Pratibha Parmar, John Greyson, Martha Gever. • Feminist Fables by Suniti Namjoshi • Out on Main Street by Shani Mootoo • Lotus of Another Color, edited by Rakesh Ratti • "Gay angst" (review of Lotus of Another Color), India Today, 30 June 1993. • Shobha De's Strange Obsession (1993), a rambunctious novel about lesbian love published by Penguin Books of India. • Play: ''Draupadi's Robes'' by Raminder Kaur, starring Parminder Sekhon and Poulomi Desai. The production included poetry, music and dance with performers from London's Asian LGBTTQI communities 1994 • Vadamalli by novelist Su.Samuthiram is the first Tamil novel about Aravaani community in Tamil Nadu • G.A.Y (Good as You) group formed in Bangalore • TIME names Urvashi Vaid one of the top leaders under 40 • Humsafar Trust registered in India • All India Hijra Kalyan Sabha got voting rights in India • SALGA hosts Pride Utsav in New York, during Stonewall 25 • ABVA challenges Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in court after condom distribution prohibited in Tihar Jail, Delhi. • Khush-DC formed in Washington DC • South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) banned from marching in the New York City India Day Parade, but protested along with Sakhi, a women's organization. • MASALA formed in Boston • Vimla Farooqui of National Federation of Indian Women asks PM to stop gay meet claiming homosexuality is Western • SALGA –Philadelphia formed • Abraham Verghese's My Own Country wins Lambda Literary Award • Naz/Humsafar Gay Men's Conference in Bombay • First gay conference in India reported (incorrectly) by Erie Gay News in Feb 1995. Conference said to have happened Dec (1994). See 1981. • Chhota Khayal, monthly calendar of Khush, Toronto • Funny Boys and Funny Girls: Notes on a Queer South Asian Planet by Gayathri Gopinath • Films: • Destiny, Desire and Devotion by Zahid Dar 1995 • SAGrrls list serve launched by Jasbir Puar and others • Pride Utsav hosted by Trikone in San Francisco (Jun)(parent of DesiQ) • Trikone's website debuts – the first ever for a South Asian LGBT group • Awaz-e-Atish: Voice of Fire publication by Atish Network Society (1995-1996) • Sulaiman Mohammed, founding member of Atish, passes away (Aug) • Stree Sangam (later renamed LABIA) founded in Bombay • Khuli Zaban founded by Leema Khan and Neena Hemmady in Chicago (Oct). • Trikone and SALGA get NGLTF Community Service Award (Nov) • Queer Issue of Rungh, a South Asian quarterly of culture, comment, and criticism • Club Kali opens • Pravartak renamed to Naya Pravartak • + From the Coffee Table to the Kit(s)chen - an exhibition of Queer Asian portraits by Poulomi Desai, curated by Preet Paul opens at the Oxford bookstore and Gallery in Kolkatta during riots. • Book: • Virtual Equality by Urvashi Vaid released. • Plays: • Ash Kotak's Maa played at The Royal Court, London, produced by Moti Roti 1996 • Kali becomes first hijra to stand for elections in Bihar (Judicial Reforms Party) (Apr) • Trikone-Tejas formed in Texas and hosts first public event (Oct) • Outlook magazine says Lucknow leads the pack in India for gay sex (Oct) • Poet Ifti Nasim inducted into Chicago Lesbian and Gay Hall of Fame (Oct) • Arvind Kumar and Ashok Jethanandi, founders of Trikone and India Currents, are married in Toronto in traditional religious ceremony conducted by Ma Yogashakti, Arvind's mother. • Shani Mootoo, Cereus Blooms at Night. • The Invisibles: A Tale of Eunuchs of India by Zia Jaffrey • Films: • BomGay, based on R. Raj Rao's poems, by Riyad Wadia • A Mermaid Called Aida by Riyad Wadia • Fire by Deepa Mehta 1997 • Naz Foundation (India) Trust starts helplines – Sangini for women and Humraz for men • Humrahi formally starts in Delhi • Darpan newsletter launched in Delhi • Bandhu Social Welfare Society established in Dhaka to work on HIV/AIDS and the MSM community • Counsel Club organizes Network East conference (Jan) • Javid Syed, AIDS activist included in best and brightest activists under 30 by The Advocate magazine (Aug) • Sabrang – a mixed group forms in Bangalore (Sep) • Queer Awaaz formed in Los Angeles, later disbanded and merged with Trikone LA (Nov) • Trikone-Northwest formed • National Seminar on Gay Rights organized by students of National Law School in Bangalore (Sep) • Meeting for Women who love Women is part of VIth National Conference of Women's Movements, Ranchi (Dec) • Films: • Tamanna by Paresh Rawal about the life of a hijra • Darmiyaan: In Between by Kalpana Lajmi • Sixth Happiness by Waris Hussein 1998 • Al-Fatiha Foundation, an organization for LGBTQ Muslims worldwide, is founded by Faisal Alam, a Pakistani American. • Khushnet.com, a Canadian queer South Asian website, launched (featuring personal ads section named "Nobody knows I met my boyfriend through Khushnet's personals") • Sarani experimental group stages Coming Out with Music in Calcutta (Apr) • First International Retreat of LGBT Muslims in Boston (Oct) • DESIDYKES created • Gay Bombay (internet group) formed • GHAR (Gay Housing Assistance Resource) mailing lists start, eventually covering Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Canada, and the United States • "Funkasia" South Asian club and cultural night started in Toronto, Canada • First public performance of Chetan Datar's Marathi-language play Ek Madhav Baug at the Humsafar Trust in Mumbai • Books • Cinnamon Gardens – a novel by Shyam Selvadurai • Neither Man nor Woman: The Hijras of India by Serena Nanda • Films • Fire released in India and theaters are vandalized (Nov-Dec) • Plays: 1998: First public reading of Ash Kotak's play Hijra at the Riverside Studios, London 1999 • Aanchal Trust forms in Bombay with helpline for women (Aug) • Women's Support Group founded in Sri Lanka