This South Asian Heritage Month, Micro Rainbow is sharing reflections from our community on what it means to be LGBTQI and South Asian in the UK today. The 2025 theme, From Roots to Routes, invites us to reflect on our journey, whether from ancestral origins to the paths we’ve taken, and how these experiences shape our identity today. For LGBTQI South Asians in the Micro Rainbow community, these journeys are often shaped by the richness of South Asian culture, the harmful legacy of colonial laws, and the power of connection.
“I carry both love and pain”
Rahim, a gay man from Bangladesh, remembers the joy of weddings and family gatherings in Sylhet.
“I love the colours, food, and closeness,” he says. “Those moments made me feel proud to be South Asian. But as a queer person, I always had to hide who I was, even in the happiest moments.”
Living in the UK, Rahim holds onto the traditions that connect him to home: language, food, and celebrations.
“I miss the big meals, the laughter, the feeling of belonging. Even when home didn’t fully accept me, I try to hold onto those moments. They remind me of who I am.”
He describes the difficulty of maintaining a connection to his South Asian identity while living in a new country.
“It’s painful. I miss my culture every day, the food, the sounds, the feeling of home. But being queer meant I was never fully accepted back home. Now I hold on to little things, but sometimes I feel like I lost a part of myself I can never get back.”
Through Micro Rainbow’s social inclusion programme, Rahim has found friendship and solidarity.
“These friendships mean everything. For the first time, I feel seen and understood without hiding who I am. It’s healing to be around people who share my culture and my pain.”
“I feel truly free from the bottom of my heart”
Shabnam, a lesbian woman from Bangladesh, finds strength in faith and tradition.
“Eid is my favourite celebration. We fast during Ramadan, then celebrate with prayers, food, and charity. It teaches me gratitude and brings our family and community together.”
She continues to wear the Bangladeshi shari on special occasions.
“It’s elegant and traditional. It connects me to my culture and makes me feel proud. It shows the richness of Bangladesh.”
While she struggled with her mental health and faced discrimination when she was younger, now she says, things have changed.
“Being LGBTQI and South Asian can be very difficult. Many people in Bangladesh have to hide who they are to stay safe. Since coming here, I feel independent and truly free from the bottom of my heart.“
“I’ve never been prouder to be LGBTQI and South Asian”
Ayesha, a Micro Rainbow Outreach Officer of Sri Lankan heritage, reflects on her own journey.
“Growing up South Asian, you’re told that being gay is not okay. It’s a sin. It can be difficult to accept yourself and even harder to believe other LGBTQI South Asians exist. I was scared of being disowned. I didn’t believe I’d ever find someone like me.”
Since joining Micro Rainbow, she says, everything shifted.
“I’ve never been prouder to be LGBTQI and South Asian. It’s an identity we can be proud of. It shows our collective bravery and resilience as we continue to shine despite the homophobia and patriarchy imposed on South Asian culture by British colonialism.”
Across South Asia, LGBTQI people continue to face legal discrimination. Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan continue to criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity. India struck down Section 377 in 2018, decriminalising same-sex activity, but discrimination and violence persist. Many of these laws were introduced under British colonial rule and remain in place today. These laws have shaped generations of silence, fear, and exile. They continue to affect how LGBTQI South Asians are treated, both in their countries of origin and in diaspora communities. For Ayesha, meeting other queer South Asians was transformative.
“I’ve never met any LGBTQI South Asians before. Working at Micro Rainbow made me feel seen and accepted in a way that isn’t always possible when you belong to both communities. I’ve now met people like me, South Asian and LGBTQI, and that’s powerful.”
She describes the joy of seeing others live authentically.
“Seeing LGBTQI South Asians celebrate their dual identity has brought me so much joy. While I don’t have a family who accepts me for being LGBTQI and South Asian, I’ve found a new chosen family with Micro Rainbow.”
Layla shares a message for anyone navigating a dual identity:
“To anyone reading this who feels alone, remember you don’t have to choose between your culture and your truth. We exist. We matter. We thrive.”
