3.9 - Queer in India: Exploring LGBTQ+ Life with Suraj Namboodiri

In today's episode, our hosts Gwenda and Tatjana talk about being Queer in India with our podcast guest Suraj Namboodiri.

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G+T Catch-up:

• Gwenda and Tatjana are in the Christmas spirit with festive events such as a cake mixing ceremony in Bandra, the Christmas Tree Lighting at Tatjana's husband's hotel.
• Gwenda attended the Indian Sports Management Conference.
• Tatjana and her husband enjoyed a few child-free days because their daughter went on a overnight trip with school.
• Gwenda and Tatjana caught up in person with our podcast guest Suraj over coffee before recording today's episode.
• How can you be a good ally? Research and Empathy.

Some of the things we mentioned in this episode:

• Our podcast guest is Suraj Namboodiri who is a fitness coach, an actor, and content creator. He is a queer person living in Mumbai and you can follow him on Instagram at @thefitgayunicorn
• Representation matters: seeing positive queer characters in Bollywood movies and overall media is important for young people to grow up knowing that being queer is totally fine.
• Lack of Support System: Coming out is linked to fear of being outcast by family, friends, and overall society.
• Section 377 was removed in 2018 and de-criminalized same-sex relations.
• Post 2018, companies and organizations have started to implement anti-homophobic policies to protect queer people.
• We continue to fight for equal rights like same-sex marriage, etc.

Some Queer Instagram accounts to follow:

• Naz Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/naz_foundation/
• Yes, We Exist: https://www.instagram.com/yesweexistindia/
• Sushant Divgikr: https://www.instagram.com/sushantdivgikr/
• Suraj Namboodiri: https://www.instagram.com/thefitgayunicorn/
• Honey Imm Home: https://www.instagram.com/honey.imm.home/
• Trinetra: https://www.instagram.com/trinetra/

Follow G+T Conversations on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@GTconversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also connect with us on our personal accounts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gwendaschobert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@craving_expat_life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Tune in every Friday for a new episode.

* G+T Conversations is created using Spotify for Podcasters. The music is Motivating Indie Rock (30s) by UNIVERSFIELD (https://freesound.org/s/755863/, License: Attribution 4.0) and Fifties Stomp Clap Loop 115BPM.wav by waggstar (https://freesound.org/s/698782/, License: Creative Commons 0).