Sher Vancouver the non-profit society for LGBTQ+ South Asians, their friends, families and allies in Metro Vancouver, B.C. has compiled a queer resource list from around the world called the ‘Queersome Desi Resources’. The specially curated list includes motivational creative projects including movies, books, podcasts and art. This work is part of a three-part series that aims for queer information and awareness.
Sher Vancouver works to reduce the alienation and discrimination of people dealing with sexuality, gender and coming-out issues by providing counselling, peer support, education and outreach services and the intention behind the creation of such a resource list was to aid and increase queer inclusivity in the South Asian community around the world.
Alex Sangha, a social worker founded Sher Vancouver in the year 2008 to help LGBTQ+ people belonging to the Sikh community and since then has grown into a name synonymous queer rights awareness and visibility in the South Asian circle in Canada. Sangha says that he is hopeful that Queersome Desi Resources will provide support and comfort to those who access it. “Global South Asians Queers are not alone in this world”, he says.
The resource list was created by Sharon and Anoushka, the organization’s Women’s Coordinators and also includes work from notable Sher community members. Both of them say that organizations like Sher are incremental in helping queer people learn acceptance and empowerment. South Asian community especially still has their reservations against anyone who doesn’t stick to their antiquated idea of ‘normal’ and it is no surprise why desi queers never had any representation in popular culture growing up. That is precisely why such a list was envisioned as representation truly matters. Sharon says it is easy to feel isolated if you are queer in a desi household and wishes that whoever finds this resource list may find hope and pride in their identity.
