In December 2024 I had the privelege of attending The Rainbow Lit Fest in Delhi along with many other LGBTQ+ writers and creatives from around the world, to share our stories, connect and have our voices heard.
My panel was on gay parenting, with fellow panelists Vikram Kolmannskog on same-sex adoption, Patruni Sastry on drag activism and parenting, Sindhu Rajasekaran, a lesbian mother and writer, on colonialism and Indian queer culture, and me, talking about being a gay dad and coming out later in life.
What struck me most about the festival, as well as the overwhelming feeling of togetherness, freedom and safety in the gathering which included many of India’s top LGBTQ+ activists, writers, and creators, was that within our diverse community there is so much that binds us. It seems that no matter where we come from, what our culture or religion might be, the stories of homo/transphobia, and the shame and guilt of growing up LGBTQ+ in a world that broadly does not accept anything other than heteronormative sexuality or identity, is a universal and cruelly felt experience.
This was devastatingly brought home to me when I met Arvey’s mum, Aarti Malhotra. Arvey ended his life after enduring bullying at school about his sexuality. His mum, a quiet, humble person, fights tirelessly for justice for Arvey and other children of difference, to make schools safer places.
Other people I connected with at the festival include: Batul from Delhi Queer Heritage Walks, Ramkrishna Sinha, Sharif Rangnekar, Sonali Khan, Dharmesh Chaubey, Rohan Arora, Anwesh Sahoo, Sannah Syed
The Rainbow Lit Fest, after firmly establishing itself as the largest coming together of the LGBTQ+ writing community in South Asia, I hope continues to grow and be a beacon for all.
David Ledain 