Welcome to The Suryan Collective: Building Joyful Futures Across the South Asian Queer Diaspora
2025–2026 marks a powerful new chapter for TSC as we re-establish ourselves as a vibrant, inclusive home for South Asian LGBT+ communities. With new Directors and volunteers on board, we’re relaunching with purpose—committed to representing the full breadth of South Asian geographies, faiths, and diasporic experiences.
In a time of growing division and marginalisation, our work centres cross-diaspora solidarity through creativity, care, and connection. Our gatherings offer more than just events—they are spaces of joyful resistance, cultural celebration, and collective rest. We respond directly to the isolation and burnout felt across our communities,
This year’s programme lays the groundwork for a longer-term vision: a three-year plan focused on expanding creative access, nurturing community leadership, and deepening diasporic connection.
Please join us. Look out for our upcoming volunteer call-outs, and follow us on Instagram
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The Suryan Collective at UK Black Pride 2024
We did it—The Suryan Collective made its debut at UK Black Pride in our new formation as a CIC, and what a day it was! With suitcases full of decorations, art materials, and a whole lot of love, we set up a stall that invited creativity, conversation, and community.
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A desi mum talks about what it's like to have 2 LGBTQ children
In this first installment of the series, we interview Rajwant Nagra, a mother of two kids both of whom are gay. She shares her journey of acceptance of her kids' identities, how she overcomes the challenges of this new world and helps her husband through the process, and breaks the news to her relatives.
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Language, identity and belonging
“Language also communicates our identities and for someone born and raised in the UK I have a complicated relationship with the language that my grandparents spoke. Punjabi was my first language until I went to school but gradually, I became less able to speak it. I would make a lot of mistakes trying to speak it to relatives and they would mock rather than encourage me. I can now read Punjabi, but it’s taken effort as an adult and I’m still very much a beginner.”
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We speak to Neelam Kaur about having an LGBTQ+ daughter
In the second installment of the series, we interview Neelam Kaur, a mother of Angit, who identifies as a lesbian. She speaks in Punjabi about her journey of acceptance and how she broke the news to her husband and acquaintances in the local gurdwara community.
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A desi mum shares her experience with us in urdu.
اس پوڈکاسٹ سیریز کی آخری قسط میں، ہم سائمہ سے چیٹ کریں گے جو ہمارے ساتھ اپنے بچوں کی کہانیاں شیئر کریں گی۔
مجھے امید ہے کہ پوڈکاسٹ کی یہ اقساط آپ کے لیے مفید رہے ہوں گے اور اوپن مائنڈز ٹیم نے ساؤتھ ایشیائی والدین کے سفر میں کچھ معنی خیز معلومات فراہم کرنے میں مدد کی ہو گی۔ میں اور ٹیم اب اس وقت کے لیے سائن آؤٹ کر رہے ہیں۔ براہ کرم ہم سے کسی بھی مدد یا تجاویز اور فیڈبیک کے لیے رابطہ کریں۔ -
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The Open Minds Project
“LGBTQ+ people are excluded or erased from mainstream Punjabi culture. There is a culture of shame, secrecy and taboo about sex and sexuality and mental illness. Often we’re not encouraged to talk about these things with our families and this can lead to loneliness, isolation and mental ill-health.”
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Punjabi and Gay? - It’s Ok! [English Version]
“Growing up, it’s normal for us to take on the values and beliefs of the people that are raising us. For those of us raised with traditional Punjabi values this usually means that we have to believe that our biological sex (‘female’ or ‘male’) determines our life-path, and that a heterosexual marriage with someone from a similar background is something we should all aim for. “
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TSC Summer Event 2025
Loveena, one of our patrons who joined our event this summer writes about her experience at the TSC Summer Event.
