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Discovering queer India

Timeline

2023
400 BCE – 200 BCE

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.

1015

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, who was the first Muslim ruler of the Indian subcontinent, has a relationship with his slave Malik Ayaz. This relationship has become an Islamic legend and Mahmud later appointed Malik Ayaz as the sultan of Lahore.

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Out! Stories from the New Queer India
Out! Stories from the New Queer India

In Bengaluru, a law student falls in love as the nation’s highest courts decide whether his love is legitimate. In Mumbai, a film star and a parent discuss their journeys of “coming out” as advocates of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender movement. In rural Kerala, two girls row a small boat and feel their hearts opening. These are the lives of queer Indians today: poignant, gripping, and occasionally even hilarious. Through their original and unforgettable stories, penned by the community’s master storytellers and emerging writers, Out! offers a glimpse beyond the closet doors – into the lives and dreams of India’s most misunderstood minority.