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Sonal Giani
Indian LGBTIQ+ activist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sonal Giani is an Indian LGBTQ activist and actress. Known for her advocacy and youth work, she focuses on the social impact of India's anti-LGBTQ law, Section 377. She is the co-founder of LGBTQ youth initiatives Yaariyan and Umangin.
Early life
Giani grew up in Goa, India and has a twin sister.[1] She came out to first her mother, followed by her father after the Delhi High Court judgement which struck down Section 377.[2] At age 19, she was outed without her consent, leading to feelings of depression.[3] She describes facing backlash, including sexual harassment and finding graffiti aimed at her in washrooms.[4]
Personal life
In 2013, Giani appeared in the reality television show Connected Hum Tum.[5] The program followed Giani for over a year, documenting her life and her relationship with her female partner at the time.[6] Giani also discussed her bisexuality on the show.[5]
Career and activism
Giani worked as an advocacy manager at the Humsafar Trust, a nonprofit that works to improve LGBTQ rights.[6] She cites this job as helping herself heal and "dream of a bias-free, equal world".[2] In her role, Giani provided assistance to people facing blackmail or extortion under Indian law based on their sexuality.[7]
The root of this widespread discrimination and marginalization against LBT individuals is not because of hatred amongst the society but because of their utter ignorance towards it.
Sonal Giani[8]
Giani is a co-founder of Yaariyan and Umang, two LGBTQ youth groups in Mumbai.[9] In 2023, she became the delegate for Asia and the Pacific on the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board.[10] She also works at International Planned Parenthood Federation as a senior advisor.[4]
Giani considers same-sex marriage a "distant dream" in India, and the lack of this right as a cause of discrimination against LGBTQ people.[11] She cites the need to educate others to address these root causes, both in terms of sex education and better understanding of LGBTQ individuals.[8]
See also
References
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