In 2014, the Supreme Court’s NALSA [National Legal Services Authority] judgment gave the world a masterclass in compassion. It declared that gender identity is an innate part of a person’s soul, recognising self-determination as the cornerstone of freedom. From Argentina to Denmark, the world looked to India as a beacon; they saw a nati
22 March,2026 08:58 AM IST | Mumbai | Team SMDOn April 15, 2014, the streets were painted pink, white, and blue. The Supreme Court had just delivered the NALSA judgment (National Legal Services Authority v Union of India), which made self-identification the cornerstone of being transgender. For a brief moment, the law caught up with lived reality. Then in 2019, we got the Transgender Persons
22 March,2026 08:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Akshita MaheshwariGive Mumbaikars a low concrete platform, and they’ll turn it into a social hub. Think the Marine Drive promenade, Shivaji Park, or this writer’s college that prided itself for its popular Ruparel Katta, where students happily bunked many a day’s lecture. When we heard that a new one had popped up in Thane, our ears perked up. Atra
27 February,2026 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish KambleOn February 20, 2026, Mumbai came alive as members of the city’s LGBTQIA community took part in the much-awaited Pride 2026 march in South Mumbai. Known popularly as the Rainbow March, the event brought together activists, allies, and citizens from all walks of life, united in their call for equality, inclusion, and legal rights for LGBTQIA
20 February,2026 09:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a first-of-its-kind initiative in Jharkhand, a cafe has been set up in Ramgarh district that will be run exclusively by members of the transgender community. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz inaugurated 'TransCafe' at the district collectorate park on Tuesday. An initiative of the district administration, the cafe will be managed
18 February,2026 04:00 PM IST | Ramgarh (Jharkhand) | PTIThink Valentine's Day, and you picture dramatic proposals and grand declarations of love. But the day is different for India's queer community, who do not have the right to marry their partner or even the luxury to proclaim their love openly. Aditi Anand, co-founder of Neelam Studios with Pa Ranjith, founder of Little Red Car Films, and producer of
14 February,2026 04:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Nandini ShahEmpathy and authenticity have always driven Onir’s queer-themed stories on screen. The filmmaker’s next, a short film titled Tumhari Khushboo, is laced with the same qualities. What makes its casting notable is that Onir has roped in Shashi Bhushan, a visually impaired actor, to portray a queer and visually impaired character opposite B
30 January,2026 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal AsharFellows in love Fellow Travelers is a political thriller set in 1950s United States where two government workers, Hawk Fuller and Tim Laughlin, enter into an illicit gay relationship. They navigate political issues of 20-century America, most notably McCarthyism which aimed to purge American politics of communists and homosexuals. This Amazon Prim
18 January,2026 09:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Aarav GargThis show has made so many queer people believe in love again,” Dan Rebello tells us. It’s been a long day at work for the primary school teacher, but their voice gets animated as we discuss the Heated Rivalry phenomenon that’s taken the world by storm. The Canadian show tells the story of two secretly gay ice hockey players, Shan
18 January,2026 08:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Debjani PaulWhile most of us enjoy a jolly good time in December, the month can be very difficult for most in the queer community. Family gatherings, Christmas parties, festivities, all become grounds for rejection and homophobia. That’s why Mumbai Queer Pride, along with all recognisable queer collectives in the city, including Gaysi Family, Yaariyan, H
08 January,2026 07:45 PM IST | Mumbai | Akshita MaheshwariA 27-year-old man from Telangana was allegedly confined for three hours and robbed during a New Year’s Eve meet arranged through an LGBTQIA+ dating app in Powai. Police said the incident occurred on December 31 on the pipeline cycle track road behind Amrut Bar. The victim had travelled to Mumbai after connecting with a man on Grindr. Investi
05 January,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilADVERTISEMENT
-1771597733765_d.png "Mumbai celebrates Pride 2026 with music, dance, and colourful solidarity. Pic/Ashish Raje")
