KhushDC

QPOC Happy Hour Celebrating Black History Month (2/27)

2012-02-08T22:44:00.000-05:00

Queer People of Color (QPOC) Happy Hour
to Celebrate Black History Month

When: Monday, February 27, 2012, 6-8pm
Where: Number Nine (1435 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005)

Join DC Black Pride, DC Latino Pride and KhushDC for a social mixer to celebrate Black History Month and foster unity, leadership and collaboration. Join the leaders and supporters of DC's largest People of Color Pride celebrations as we celebrate our identity, diversity and history. This is an excellent networking opportunity with LGBTQ People of Color community advocates.

Join us at Number Nine (2nd floor) for 2-4-1 happy hour specials--- order any drink and get a second drink free.

Hosted by: DC Black Pride, DC Latino Pride Committee, KhushDC, International Federation of Black Prides, Latino GLBT History Project

Jalwa - DC's LGBTQ Bollywood Dance Party (March 2nd)

2012-02-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

KhushDC is bringing back Jalwa parties – DC’s LGBTQ Bollywood dance party!

Date: Friday, March 2, 2012
Time: Doors open at 10pm
Location: Green Lantern (1335 Green Court NW, Washington, DC 20005)
Tickets: $12 before 11pm and $15 after
Doors open at 10pm!

DJ Sue from NYC will be spinning Bollywood beats all night long! Everyone is welcome to attend (gay or straight).

Please help us spread the word to all of your East coast friends.

Special shout-out to our good friend, Macy Jablonski, for creating this awesome poster for us!

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/events/241536829255450/

Send us your you song suggestions using the Facebook link above or visiting the KhushDC Yahoo! Groups page.

Website: http://www.KhushDC.org/
Contact: board@khushdc.org

Book club - Ninny's Natter (2/12)

2012-02-01T20:15:00.001-05:00

KhushDC is excited to announce our first book club meeting of the year! This month's book will be Ninny's Natter by Ninad Jog. The book club meeting will take place on Sunday, February 12th, 2012 @ 2PM at The DC Center (1318 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009). Immediately following our discussion, KhushDC is pleased to host a special Q&A session with the author, Ninad Jog.

Please see below a description of the book:

"From being mistaken for a faith healer to being mistaken for a woman, the two dozen stories and vignettes in this collection describe some of the interesting incidents in Ninad Jog's life.

"When a woman approaches him and asks for money, he has to decide in an instant whether to accede to her demand. He wonders what he should tell an Israeli tourist who asks which country he considers to be his home. As a child, Ninad has no qualms about demanding a bottle of orange soda from his uncle. But as an adult, he agonizes over buying his father a small container of whole milk.

"Written in a plain, straightforward manner and infused with wry humor, the stories switch effortlessly between lighthearted and somber tones.

"Set mainly in the U.S. and India, they cover a period of forty years. From the antics of toddlers to the deaths of loved ones, the stories touch upon topics such as race, religion, names, vegetarianism, stamp collecting, homosexuality, and the pressure to conform to societal norms. The book is rounded off by one poem and dozens of one-liners."

To purchase a paperback copy of Ninny's Natter, please visit: http://amzn.to/xEgIIZ

To purchase the Kindle Version of Ninny's Natter, please visit: http://amzn.to/zypaeH

If you require assistance in obtaining a copy of the book, please feel free to contact Jeff at: vp@khushdc.org.

Valentines Day Happy Hour

2012-02-01T20:12:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day Happy Hour
When: 6:30pm, February 11th
Where: Larry's Lounge (1836 18th Street NW, 20009)

Description

Join us for a KhushDC Valentines Happy Hour on February 11, 2012 at Larry's Lounge (1836 18th Street NW) at 6:30pm.

Entrance is free, but please bring a few extra bucks to contribute towards the Jalwa party!

Here are the drink specials for the night:

* Premier beer (tbd) - $3
* Stoli vodka - $5
* Special for Khush - Masti Mai Tais - $4

Contact us if you have any questions board@khushdc.org.

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This is a safe space for the South Asian queer community and friends to celebrate each others cultures, backgrounds, and genders. Let's respect each other and have a good time.
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Please RSVP by using the Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/events/291873590870134/

Best wishes for 2012

2011-12-31T14:18:00.001-05:00

Dear Khush members,

As we countdown the descent of the 2012 New Year’s ball (45,900 seconds to go!), I'd like to take a second to reflect on what Khush has accomplished this past year and where I see opportunity for us in the new year.

For me, it’s been a year that started with meeting the many great Khush members at my first event last January to where I sit today as the president of this thriving and vital organization. People regularly ask me why I joined the board and the answer is that I wanted to share my stories and hear yours -- stories about happiness, fear, sadness, hope, and empowerment.

As a board, we've discussed some of those stories and they've motivated us to organize social events like the Hadippa Happy Hour and winter potluck, advocacy events such as "Why the Violence?" and the legal struggles for South Asian LGBTQ people forums, and intimate events like our Chai 'N' Chat meet-ups. For a year-end review video of some of what we have accomplished towards the latter part of 2011 check out a little video we put together: http://youtu.be/5Z9btq0e_Eo.

While I'm proud of our successes as a new board, we did have our fair share of struggles. Foremost among them, we lost a member of our community, Gaurav Gopalan, to hate and ignorance. As a board that was only one-month old, we unfortunately didn't have all of the answers. However, we did have an amazing support network of other South Asian LGBTQ leaders, who were willing to give us a hand. One such person was Shiva Subbaraman, who helped us write a press release, contact the police, media, and much more. Also, we had others like Sapna Pandya, who led the charge towards discussing "Why the Violence" in the larger queer people of color communities. We also saw DC's South Asian queer community come together at the vigil to stand-up against hate and violence; this was a powerful moment for me as a reminder of our support network as a community.

And now, I'd like to share our hopes for the new year. We want to continue to push the police and others to investigate Gaurav's death, we want to work towards building a stronger, active, and more inclusive Khush, and we want to continue sharing stories so that others can know what it means to be khush (happy). Here are some of the events we have lined up for 2012 that we hope to see you at:

Sunday, January 8 - Potluck for anyone who does not identify as male (RSVP to secretary@khushdc.org)

January – Inaugural book club meeting – we’ll send you the name of the book very soon!

February - Chai 'N' Chat, possible happy hour

Early March - Jalwa party (date/time being finalized) - we'll need your help for this.

June – D.C. Pride March - design the float (yes, we're going to have a float in 2012!) and panel discussion (topic TBD). We'll be soliciting folks for the Pride committee, so please sign-up.

Fall - Political discussion about 2012 candidates

If you have any other ideas for events you’d like to see, don’t hesitate to let us know.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and safe 2012,
Puesh

[Originally sent to KhushDC members on December 31, 2011 at 11:15am ET]

KhushDC's year-in-review video

2011-12-10T15:19:00.001-05:00

Check out this montage of what KhushDC did during the second half of 2011! Hope to see you at future events. Remember to get on our list server and Facebook page by hopping on over to the "Get Involved" tab. (Psst...we have our Winter Potluck tonight!)

Chai 'N' Chat: Religion & Homosexuality on Dec. 4

2011-11-24T09:50:00.001-05:00

KhushDC's December Chai 'N' Chat: Religion & Homosexuality

Hindus, Buddhists, Bahá'ís, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Atheists, Agnostics and Wiccans are ALL WELCOME

December’s Chai & Chat Series promises to be vibrantly controversial as we take on the forbidden: The Clash between Religion and Homosexuality.

If you practice your faith and have wrestled with being LGBTQ and religious, this evening’s discussion is for you. If you don’t subscribe to a religion, come and be the “devil’s advocate” and debate fairness and equality for ALL irrespective of religion.

Whatever your stance bring your sacred texts, your philosophies and your convictions and let’s engage the taboo.

Date: Sunday, December 4, 5:30pm

***RSVP to dwayneeric@yahoo.com or jaggarwal@gmail.com for further details and location.***

Chai 'N' Chat is a SAFE and CONFIDENTIAL place for the South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community to join a group atmosphere to discuss a variety of topics.

Winter Potluck - 12/10/11

2011-11-21T21:43:00.001-05:00

KhushDC would like to invite the DC area South Asian LGBTQ community to our Winter Potluck. We'll bring music, fun, and cheer if you bring a dish or drink according to the first letter of your LAST name:

A to I: Dessert
J to R: Entrée
T to Z: Appetizer
(or bring $7 for emergency pizza!)

By the way, leave a comment below with a song you'd like to hear played during the potluck and we'll try adding it to our playlist! (PS: The DJ is a bolly-holic, so you've been warned!)

Feel free to forward this event to other members of the South Asian LGBTQ community that we may have missed.

When: Saturday, December 10th at 6:00pm
Location: Mt. Pleasant area - RSVP for address

***Please RSVP to secretary@khushdc.org by Thursday, December 8th so that we can plan properly.***

Winter Potlucks!

2011-11-15T12:55:00.011-05:00

KhushDC Potlucks are coming back! Mark your calendars now!

Saturday, December 10 -- All-Khush Potluck
Mount Pleasant, in the evening
all individuals are welcome!

Sunday, January 8 -- Women's Potluck
Logan Circle, in the evening
all individuals who identify as women/female/non-male are welcome!

Type of dish to bring will vary based on the letter your last name begins with. That list and RSVP information coming soon!

Chai 'n' Chat

2011-11-14T13:18:00.006-05:00

The November Chai 'n' Chat was great! About 10 community members gathered for an evening of good conversation and good company. This month's topic was Coming Out, and everyone shared their own experiences, struggles, and successes.

Next month the topic will be the intersection of your sexuality and your religion, and how the two impact each other. More information will be forthcoming, but mark your calendars - it'll be on Sunday, December 4 in Logan Circle!

2011 Civil & Human Rights Symposium

2011-11-08T07:42:00.001-05:00

The South Asian Bar Association of Washington, D.C., the South Asian Law Students Association at Georgetown University Law Center, KhushDC, and GAYLAW present:

2011 Civil & Human Rights Symposium: Surveying the Landscape of Social and Legal Issues Affecting the South Asian LGBTQ Community in the U.S. and in South Asia.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Georgetown University Law Center
Hart Auditorium
600 New Jersey Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
FREE-to-attend

The landscape of social and legal issues faced by the South Asian LGBTQ community is changing. Great strides have been made to promote and advance the interests of the LGBTQ community in the United States and in South Asia, but many challenges still remain. The panelists will provide insight and share their perspective of the social and legal issues currently faced by the South Asian LGBTQ community in the United States and South Asia, as well as on the role of the U.S. Department of State in international LGBTQ issues.

The panelists will include:

Sapna Pandya – Sapna Pandya is Co-Founder of Humsafar International, a collective of trainers on health access and cultural competence, with a particular interest in sexual health and sexual identity issues among LGBTQ communities. One of her current projects includes consulting for the Muslim Youth Project, a sexual & reproductive health empowerment and capacity building project housed at Advocates for Youth. Sapna has experience working with priority populations (queer communities, PLWHA) in India and Pakistan, but also draws from her advocacy work with South Asian queer folks in New York City and the DC area, and health education programs when she directed the South Asian Health Initiative (SAHI) in New York City. These experiences have deepened the passion that Sapna has for being involved in coordinated social justice movements (that bridge methods such as advocacy & organizing, and incorporate a leftist ideology) - a realization which motivated a move “back” to the Nation’s capital just over a year ago. Sapna is the Executive Director of Many Languages One Voice, a DC-based organization that administers the DC Language Access Coalition, and builds community power to ensure that all individuals with limited or no-English proficiency (LEP/NEP) have equitable access to public services, programs, and activities. Sapna lives with her wife in the District and speaks Spanish in addition to her native languages of Hindi/Urdu, Gujarati and Marathi.

Mira D. Patel – Mira Patel joined the Policy Planning staff for the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State in April 2009. She is responsible for international women’s issues, refugee policy, and LGBT issues. Most recently, she served as Secretary Clinton’s Senate aide for foreign affairs, defense, and finance. She previously worked for the Center for American Progress and for Lehman Brothers in New York analyzing foreign exchange in emerging markets. She holds a B.A. from Wellesley College.

Gautam Raghavan (Moderator) – Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director of Public Engagement at the White House, where he functions as the White House liaison to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Prior to joining the White House, Gautam served as the Deputy White House Liaison for the U.S. Department of Defense (“DoD”) and as the Outreach Lead for DoD’s “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” Working Group. Gautam has previously worked for the Obama campaign, Democratic National Committee, and Progressive Majority, and is a graduate of Stanford University. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his husband Andy and beagle Penny.

Jeff Schimelfenig, Esq. – Jeff Schimelfenig is currently the President-Elect of the National LGBT Bar Association and a member of GAYLAW (the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Attorneys of Washington DC). Jeff works as National Director of Legal Project Management for Kelly Services, providing consulting services to law firms and corporate general counsels on e-discovery project management, staffing alternatives and legal talent resources. Previously, Jeff was a general practice sole practitioner in Northeastern Pennsylvania focusing on small business issues. He is a graduate of the American University Washington College of Law and of the University of Scranton. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia Bars.

Vega Subramaniam – Vega Subramaniam has been involved in South Asian LGBT activism since the late 1990s. With her wife, Mala Nagarajan, she co-founded Trikone-NW in 1997, an organization for queer South Asians in the Pacific Northwest. In 2004, she and Mala were one of 8 couples to participate in a marriage equality lawsuit against King County and Washington. She also helped organize the DesiQ conference in San Francisco in 2006 and the NQAPIA national conference in Seattle in 2009. Professionally, her work has revolved around education equity for low-income, first-generation college students and students of color. She has taught sociology and worked in student services at Penn State University, Western Washington University, and the University of Washington. She currently works at ACCT, a national community college association.

This event is free and the entire DC community is encouraged to attend. For more information about this event or SABA-DC, please contact Habib Ilahi at president @ sabadc.org (without spaces). KhushDC contact is Puesh Kumar at president @ khushdc.org (without spaces).

South Asian queer family attends White House Diwali

2011-10-29T11:19:00.000-04:00

The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships hosted the 2011 Diwali Reception. Some of the KhushDC family was lucky enough to have this opportunity to meet with attending dignitaries such as Ambassador Nirupama Rao, White House LGBT liaison Gautam Raghavan, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Executive Director Kiran Ahuja, Initiative Commissioner Amardeep Singh, U.S. Army Chaplain Pratima Dharm, and many more. President Obama also spoke at the event. A video of his comments are posted on YouTube.

In addition to those of us from KhushDC, it was great to see a number of South Asian LGBT involved in the executive and legislative branches.

From left to right: Gautam Raghavan, Chuck Johnson, JP Singh, Ashley Bell, Shamina Singh, Mira Patel, Aleyamma Mathew, Vega Subramanium, Puesh Kumar, Mala Nagarajan, and Tarak Shah

My Diwali

2011-10-26T20:01:00.000-04:00

My sister and I knew it was that time of year when my dad would get the ladder out in late-October/early-November to put up the Christmas lights or, as he liked to call them, the Diwali lights. Rather than get excited, we were always worried that our neighbors would think we were "weird" or "crazy" for putting Christmas lights up so early in the year. When we would voice these concerns, my mom would very bluntly say, "I don't care what these Americans think, it's my Diwali and I will celebrate it!"

As a Hindu-Punjabi family, we would pray at our makeshift temple in the guest bedroom, I would light the incense, my sister would put a tikka (vermillion powder) on each of the gods and goddesses, and we would all sing the Gayatri Mantra together. And just so we weren't lured towards Christmas, we would receive presents and my mom would say, "See, you receive presents one month early in our culture." (This was true, but it still sucked when December rolled around and you had to tell your friends that you got your presents a month ago.)

Then in the coming days we would celebrate the holiday with aunties, uncles, and their kids. We weren't related to any of them, but they became our family in the States. This newfound family during Diwali was very much like an American family during Thanksgiving or Christmas - same stress levels, screaming kids, food everywhere, and the love, laughter, and joy we felt by sharing a moment in time together. However, as I grew older and began to accept the fact that I was gay, I began to wonder if these same aunties and uncles would want to continue sharing this holiday with me and my family if they knew about my sexual orientation.

My mom's favorite phrase, "loge kya sochein gaye" (what will people/society say?) comes to mind. Not only did I worry what these aunties and uncles would think about me, but, more importantly, what they would say about my family if they found out. Diwali was one such time that I had resolved to stay an eternal bachelor for the sake of myself and my family.

You see, as immigrants, we had worked so hard to create a new family in the United States that we didn't want to lose it all. These aunties and uncles had become our masis, bhuas, chachus, and mamus. So coming out of the closet not only meant the possibility of losing friends and family, it also meant losing my culture -- my Diwali -- that I held so dear.

Eventually, I came out of the closet to my family, friends, and... the aunties and uncles. Although there were a couple bumps along the way (I was expecting much worse!), I received the same love, laughter, and joy that I was afraid of losing. Looking back, it was moments like Diwali when my family had developed such strong bonds of love with the aunties and uncles that nothing could tear that apart. They had let the magic of Diwali lights enter in hearts year after year, and I was part of that magic, because it was as much my Diwali as it was theirs.

So, I wish you a khush (happy) Diwali this year and for the years to come. Always know that you have someone and that moments of darkness will eventually make way for light. -Puesh

KhushDC member Urooj Arshad honored

2011-10-24T22:57:00.000-04:00

During the 15th anniversary of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) our very own Urooj Arshad was chosen as one of the 15 APA Women Leader Spotlights. Here's what they said about her:

Urooj Arshad has been on the front lines of a number of social justice movements for years, and exemplifies the NAPAWF “Fierce Sister.” As the Associate Director of Equity and Social Justice at Advocates for Youth, she provides capacity building services to community based organizations working with youth of color. She is a organizing powerhouse in the Muslim community through her leadership of an international queer Muslim collective addressing the current needs and concerns of LGBTQ Muslims around the world. She recently became the first openly queer participant accepted to the prestigious American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute. She has been a stalwart supporter of NQAPIA and has facilitated a number of training sessions. At the strategy meeting of our first NQAPIA conference in 2009, her facilitation set the tone that inspired our initial board to step up to leadership.

Also, head on over to the Angry Asian Man blog to learn more about Urooj in her own words. When asked what the best advice she's ever received, Urooj replied, "Happiness is also a form of revolution. To attain true happiness we have to work towards love and not fear." And now you know why we love Urooj so much.

You can help support her work by donating to NAPAWF by clicking here.

Why the Violence?

2011-10-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

Event: Why the Violence? A community dialogue
When: Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center, 2000 14th St. NW, DC
Other Info: Bring your voices to a community hearing about anti-LGBTQ violence in the DC community.

KhushDC has been working with a newly formed collective of queer people of color (QPOC) to address issues affecting our respective communities. Our inaugural event was on June 6th during Capital Pride and our very own Rashad Ullah was the moderator with panelists Earl Fowlkes, President and CEO of the International Federation of Black Prides, Ben de Guzman, Co-Director for Programs at the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), Sapna Pandya, Executive Director, Many Languages One Voice and Co-Founder, Humsafar International, David M. Pérez, President of the Latino GLBT History Project and Co-Chair of the 5th Annual DC Latino Pride, and Danielle King Founder/Director of The National Aurora Campaign.

To continue the discussion, we are hosting a community dialogue about the increased violence against LGBTQ people of color in the DC area on Thursday, October 27, 2011 from 6:30-8:30pm Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center, 2000 14th Street NW, DC.

Please share with fellow community concerned community members on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=232780200114322.

We welcome you to participate in this community hearing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people of color communities in DC. Stand up and TESTIFY about what YOU THINK is causing the upsurge of alarming violence against and within our communities. This hearing is an open, public forum, and the first in a proposed series of Mobilizing the Mosaic actions being organized by a newly formed collective of Queer People of Color (QPOC) in DC. Come offer your thoughts on violence in our communities, learn about LGBTQI resources available in DC, and propose ideas for action to keep all of us safe.

The Frank D. Reeves Municipal Center is located on the corner of 14th & U Street NW. Yellow or Green line to U Street/Cardozo. Join us at Nellie's at the corner of U St. NW and 9th Street for an informal gathering to continue conversation and community building after the hearing.

Click here for full flyer.

--DC QPOC is an informal collective of individuals and organizations interested in fostering unity, community, leadership and activism among Queer People of Color through educational and social events.--

Introducing Chai 'N' Chat

2011-10-11T10:55:00.000-04:00

The coming out logo was
designed by Keith Haring.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, October 11th, we would like to announce the revival of KhushDC's Chai 'N' Chat Discussion Group meetings.

Chai 'N' Chat is a safe and confidential place for the South Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community to join a group atmosphere to discuss a variety of topics such as coming out, gender identity and expression, sex and relationships, marriage, and much more. Usually, the topic for a specific meeting is just a guide - feel free to bring any topic of concern to you.

Sunday, November 13th Chai 'N' Chat

Cutting Chai. Photo credit: Premshree
Pillai's Flickr photostream

Time: 4:00pm
Topic: Coming Out

Each person’s coming-out story is unique and personal. Come share your story with us or just come and listen to other coming-out stories on Sunday, November 13th. We'll be meeting at a KhushDC member's residence in the Mount Pleasant area. More details, directions, and options for transportation will be sent on an individual basis once you RSVP to treasurer @ khushdc.org or dwayneeric @ yahoo.com (without the spaces) to ensure the privacy of everyone attending.

EXCERPTS on the coming-out process

“Many people find that coming out is a positive experience. However, coming to terms with confusion about identity can have both positive and negative effects on many aspects of a person's life, including social relationships, school or work, and self-esteem.

Coming out can be a difficult time; many LGBT people fear negative reactions, rejection and upsetting people they are close to. In many parts of the world strong cultural attitudes and discriminatory laws make coming out even harder.

Despite the obstacles faced by LGBT people, every day more people around the world make the decision to come out, and many organisations are working to provide support and campaign for the rights of people who are able to come out and live their lives openly as LGBT.” - http://www.avert.org/coming-out.htm

***

“For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people, coming out is a process of understanding, accepting, and valuing one’s sexual orientation/identity. Coming out includes both exploring one’s identity and sharing that identity with others. It also involves coping with societal responses and attitudes toward LGBT people.

The coming out process is very personal. This process happens in different ways and occurs at different ages for different people. Some people are aware of their sexual identity at an early age; others arrive at this awareness only after many years. Coming out is a continuing, sometimes lifelong, process. Because positive role models are often difficult to identify, LGBT people may feel alone and unsure of their own sexual identities. Fear of rejection is greater among LGBT people due to the prejudices in society against them.” - http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/?page_id=150

KhushDC member featured on NPR

2011-10-06T13:41:00.000-04:00

Daniel Phoenix Singh, a long-time KhushDC member and former board member, was featured on NPR on Wednesday, October 5th for this incredible dance company Dakshina. We're really proud of Dan and wish him the very best!

Dan attributes his love of dance to Pamela Matthews, a long time friend, teacher, and mentor. Singh holds an MFA in dance, and he studied Bharata Natyam with Guru Meena Telikicherla for several years. He continues to train at the Maryland Youth Ballet. Singh has been studying the Cuban/Colombian variations of Salsa and Merengue with Javier Varela and Shawn Malone for over nine years and has been studying Tango with Sharna Fabiano for two years.

The photographer of the image on the left is Stephen Baranovics, and the image is courtesy of Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company. Pictured is Daniel Phoenix Singh.

Listen to the interview here:

Also, hope to see you on Saturday for Dakshina's presentation of Kalakshetra in Leela Samson’s SPANDA. Learn more here.

Indian-American becomes White House LGBT Liaison

2011-10-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of the White House

Yesterday, the White House officially named Gautam Raghavan as the LGBT liaison of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Us here at KhushDC are extremely excited by the announcement and hope to work with Gautam on issues facing the South Asian and larger LGBT community.

If you don't know already, he was instrumental in leading the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Read more about it at Metro Weekly.

"i am" Film Screening & Talk with Filmmaker Sonali Gulati

2011-09-30T11:37:00.000-04:00

What do parents say when they find out their child is gay? Eleven years after her mother’s death, lesbian filmmaker Sonali Gulati returns to her hometown of New Delhi, India, to clean out her house and make peace with the parent she never came out to. Gulati interviewed 21 Indian families over the course of five years to unravel the intricacies and difficulties of coming out in India.

Dir. Sonali Gulati, 2011, India, 71 mins. in Hindi and English with English subtitles

Part of the Reel Affirmations 20th International LGBT Film Festival!

After the film, KhushDC is sponsoring a special Q&A session with Sonali Gulati! You definitely don't want to miss out on this screening and experience, which should insightful for both those in the LGBTQ community and their allies. More information to come regarding the location of the Q&A.

Screening Information
Date and time: Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 3:00 PM
Location: Theatre B07 (lower level), 805 21st Street NW. Wash, DC 20052 (click for Google Map)

Dinner after the Screening & Talk
After the film and talk at the theater (probably around 5:00pm), we're walking over to "Thai Place" restaurant to celebrate the awesomeness of Sonali and her work. Dinner will be pay-on-your-own, so if you decide to attend, please plan on bringing cash. (It's sometimes hard for the restaurant to split checks with so many people.)

Thai Place
2134 Pennsylvania Ave NW
(between N 21st St & N 22nd St)
Washington, DC 20037

Tickets for the Screening ($12) - please buy in advance
http://prod1.agileticketing.net/WebSales/pages/TicketSearchCriteria.aspx?epguid=2b864d79-e14b-427f-b310-509a8b01b22c&evtinfo=39563~807b97d3-463a-474c-b0ee-cc050fbb0d1c&

RSVP using the Facebook event please: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140525419378439

YouTube Trailer:

Note: This is a public event for anyone to attend. We welcome the entire LGBTQ community and our straight allies to join us in celebrating such a powerful film.

October Chutney Dinner & Dakshina Dance Performance

2011-09-30T11:33:00.000-04:00

Join us for our October Chutney dinner and Dakshina Performance on this coming weekend!

Chutney Dinner

What: Chutney Dinner
When: 6:00PM on Saturday, October 8th 2011
Where: Alero Mexican Restaurant
1301 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-0834

Please RSVP to Rehan at treasurer@khushdc.org by 7:00 PM on Friday, October 7th so that he can get a head count for reservation. It is encouraged that you bring cash as it is much easier to pay the bill for a large group that way.

Dakshina Performance

After dinner a bunch of us will head across the street to Lincoln Theater for a performance of Leela Samson's Spanda by Kalakshetra. This performance is organized by Daniel Phoenix Singh's fabulous dance company Dakshina. More details about the performance can be found at http://www.dakshina.org/2011/07/25/kalakshetra-performs-spanda. As many of you know Dan has been a long time member and supporter of KhushDC.

Dan has very generously agreed to make available some Orchestra seats at a subsidized rate of $30 for KhushDC members so that you can avoid ugly ticketmaster fees. This is a great deal and I highly encourage folks who are interested in South Asian performance arts or would like to know more about it to take advantage of this opportunity. If you would like to get one of these seats please email Rehan by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, Oct 4th at treasurer@khushdc.org.

Here's a preview of the performance:

See you on Saturday!