Reimagining Identity: LGBTQIA+ Voices, Activism, Movements and the Role of NGOs in South India through a Third‑World Framework
Author : Dr. Basavana Gowda OG
Abstract :
LGBTQIA+ communities in South India navigate intersecting structures of marginalization shaped by caste, class, patriarchy, and colonial legacies. A Third‑World framework — one that foregrounds intersectionality, collective resistance, and localized community strategies — is essential to understanding this terrain. This paper examines the lived experiences, activism, cultural contributions, and organizational support systems that shape LGBTQIA+ lives in South India. It foregrounds activists such as Rumi Harish, A. Revathi, Living Smile Vidya, Akkai Padmashali, Kalki Subramaniam, and Grace Banu, while also detailing the crucial interventions of NGOs such as Sangama, Alternative Law Forum, Orinam, and Sahodari Foundation. The paper situates these contributions within ongoing legal developments, economic conditions, and prospects for prosperity, highlighting both gains and persisting challenges.
Keywords :
LGBTQIA+ studies, South India, Third World framework, intersectionality, NGOs, activism, transgender rights, economic inclusivity, cultural advocacy.
