Hindu thought and traditions have long engaged with questions of sexuality, gender, identity, spirituality, and belonging through a wide range of philosophical, cultural, and lived perspectives. However, due to the pervasive reach of colonial education, most Hindus know little about what their own traditions say about gender and sexuality. Hindu scriptures, epics, and traditions contain a remarkable diversity of philosophical ideas on these subjects, expressed through a rich body of symbols and stories.
Ardhanarishvara, the composite form of Shiva and Parvati, is one such example. So is Shikhandi, a central figure in the Mahabharata who was born female and later became a man. Kinnar communities are found all over the Indian subcontinent, their stories being part of popular epics like the Ramayana and expressed through living traditions such as Aravan worship at the Koovagam festival. These are just some of the many LGBT figures and traditions woven into Hindu life and culture.
As part of CoHNA’s broader effort to educate and foster informed conversations around Hindu traditions and lived experiences, we host discussions during Pride Month exploring the intersections of Hindu and 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. Through conversations with practicing Hindus from the queer community, we explore personal journeys, Hindu texts and traditions, diaspora identity, family and community dynamics, historical narratives, and how Hindu perspectives on gender and sexuality are misrepresented in contemporary discourse.
Hindu Pride - Hinduism and the LGBTQ Experience (2021)
CoHNA’s first Pride Month conversation asked a foundational question: what do Hindu scriptures and traditions actually say about gender and sexuality? Featuring Lavina Sabnani, a social media influencer known for her work on Sanatan Dharma’s inclusivity, and Aldrin Deepak, a gay Hindu father and CoHNA steering committee member, the discussion moves from ancient texts to contemporary lived experience, and explores why even Hindu approaches to gender and sexuality are often misunderstood.
Hindu Pride (2022)
CoHNA’s 2022 Pride Month conversation features three voices with very different stories. Anjali Rimi is a Kinnar transgender advocate who survived extraordinary hardship while never leaving her Hindu faith. Hersh Khetarpal is a yogi, a pandita who has officiated several same-sex Vedic weddings, and the mother of a lesbian daughter. Deepti Rao is a lesbian Hindu professional who reflects on having to come out twice — once to her Hindu family, and once as a Hindu to the LGBTQ community.
Celebrating Pride Month: Explore the intersection of LGBTQIA & Hindu identities (2024)
CoHNA’s 2024 Pride Month conversation features Atul Mishra and Prashant Shet, both proudly gay Sanatani Hindus, in a wide ranging discussion on faith, identity, and community. Moderated by Deepthi Rao, a tech entrepreneur and lesbian Hindu advocate, topics include the colonial roots of homophobia, the role of temples as community spaces, and what it means to navigate Hindu and queer identities in spaces that treat the two as incompatible.