Categories
On Being Gay and Muslim
My entire life has been a struggle of confused identities. I stood at the intersection of gay, Muslim and economic privilege.
By Aersh
July 15, 2017
Community and Sexuality: Learning a Politics of Unbelonging
After writing the words “Community and Sexuality” as the working title of this piece, I attempted to begin writing many…
By Chayanika Shah
Review: Khamosh Pani – What heaven is there for me?
Who fights, who flees and who flows with the tide? Branching off from the community, with all the comforts that it offers, can become a true test of character.This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Partition of India – a significant chapter in our history when millions of people were faced with this dilemma.
By Surbhi Dewan
July 1, 2017
Interview: Pawan Dhall on his own journey of building communities – Part 1
In this issue of In Plainspeak, we interview Pawan Dhall, Founding Trustee of Varta Trust, queer activist, writer and social researcher. He is also the editor of the Varta webzine, promoting and sustaining dialogue on gender and sexuality, across diverse groups of people. As Pawan says, “We are all strung together on a spectrum of gender and sexuality, and we don’t have to be fixed at a single point on the spectrum throughout our lives.”
By Shikha Aleya
Hum Aapki Hain Samdhan*
Let me begin with a confession. I have always loved the idea of marriage. What is one to do when…
By Manak Matiyani
July 1, 2017
The Paradox of Principles
I do not feel the need to fight the feminist war within these spaces all the time, now that it has become my home. I have come to terms with the idea that certain contradictions can co-exist peacefully like the yin and yang. But still, sometimes, my mind is roiled in conflict, with me cautiously trying to balance my two identities – the feminist and the army officer’s wife. Nevertheless, I am unwilling to give up one for the other (even if I might be perceived as being less of one of them). So I continue to be an individual with two seeming contradictions: a feminist army-officer’s-wife!
By Ramya Anand
July 1, 2017
Brushstrokes: 9 Simple Ways to Become the Perfect Sanskari Woman
In many societies, women are assigned the role of ‘protecting’ or upholding tradition and culture. Their movements, behaviour and conversations…
By Curated Content
हम आपकी हैं समधन
शुरुआत में ही स्वीकार लेता हूँ की मुझे शादियों का बहुत शौक़ है। जब अपनी राजनैतिक सोच और व्यक्तिगत…
By Manak Matiyani
July 1, 2017
Video Page: Being Laxmi: ‘I belong to the hijra, the oldest transgender community’
Community – your friends, family, neighbours – can be a source of great strength and support. However, in exchange for…
By Curated Content
The Editorial: The Internet and Sexuality
Our desire to connect is perhaps one of the human aspirations that both Sexuality and the Internet serve. And with the Internet we now have new ways, unthought of even twenty years ago, of connecting with each other, and even at times with ourselves, finding aspects of our selves that we did not know existed.
By TARSHI
June 15, 2017
Wanting Monogamy as 1,946 Men Await my Swipe
Leaving Michael’s apartment one Tuesday morning, I smiled and said, “Have a good class today.” That may not sound like…
By Curated Content
June 15, 2017
How young Kashmiris are finding love in the time of conflict and curfew
The internet is playing a major role in activism in the Valley, and love and relationships too Onaiza Drabu Since…
By Curated Content
Interview: Dr. Anja Kovacs of the Internet Democracy Project
Anja speaks with Shikha Aleya about the spread of digital surveillance into almost every aspect of our lives, its implications and what we need to do about it.
By Shikha Aleya
How Queer are your Dating Apps?
Online dating websites and apps are one of those technological innovations that people did not think would ever do well….
By Smita Vanniyar
June 15, 2017
पहली बार इंटरनेट से जुड़ते लोग
फोटोग्राफ़र लॉरा डे रेनल ऐसे संगठनों की कोशिशों को कैमरे में क़ैद कर रही हैं, जो लोगों को पहली बार…
By Curated Content
June 15, 2017