Queer Women's History Month event - Mar. 24

Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!

Date: Sunday, March 24, 2013
Time: 4pm to 9pm
Location: CauseDC (1926 9th St. NW, Washington, DC)

Five years ago, KhushDC established one of our key annual traditions: an event recognizing and celebrating the queer women/trans/and genderqueer folks in our community. In keeping with this month’s distinction as Women’s History Month, this event has traditionally been held in March. 

This year, we have been working hard to finalize the details for a very special KhushDC Women’s History Month event: an open mic lounge, “Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!”

“Celebrating South Asian Queer Femininity in Body and Spirit!” will begin with performative readings from the new anthology, “Out! Stories from the New Queer India,” edited by renowned author, writing coach and member of our global South Asian queer community, Minal Hajratwala. “Out!” has been published by the first LGBTQ publisher/retailer in India, Queer Ink! Following these readings, we will open the floor to story-telling of and about South Asian queer women/trans and genderqueer folks via film, dance, music and/or other offerings. We are particularly keen to represent the range of ethnic, national, linguistic, religious, class and other diversity of our South Asian diasporic community, so if you know already that you are interested in sharing something, or would like to nominate a local artist, please email vp@khushdc.org – if you’re not sure yet, remember that you have the opportunity to jump up to the mic on the day of the event itself!

Stick around after the performances to pick up your own copy of "Out!" and have it signed by Minal. The book-signing will occur during our very own Queer Women's History Month reception/”mini Jalwa” where you can enjoy the delicious cocktails and locally sources, ethically produced dishes on offer at CauseDC!

In addition to being published by the first LGBTQ publisher in India, “Out!” is very special as it is the first anthology of LGBTLiterature in India after the 2009 Delhi High Court Ruling on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Contributors in the book include published writers Sandip Roy, R.Raj Roy, Dibyajyoti Sarma, Sunny Singh, Kama Spice, Anisha Sridhar, Arun Mirchandani and a vibrant group of emerging writers. Further, the book celebrates the presence of the queer community among the “mainstream” in India.

Click here to view an excerpt from “Out!,” featuring a conversation between actress/activist Nandita Das and writer/proud mother of a queer Indian woman Chitra Palekar: 

Link to video: http://youtu.be/9hgG4dfoMC0

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/128011964044102/

Look forward to seeing you all there!
KhushDC Board

KhushDC Veep becomes DC Commissioner

Sapna Pandya speaking with DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray behind her

KhushDC is proud to announce that our very own Vice President, Sapna Pandya, was sworn-in as a Commissioner for the DC Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs on February 8, 2013.

Congrats, Sapna, and thank you for representing the queer, South Asian, and larger API community in DC!

Check out the full press release by clicking here.  And photos from the event here.

End-of-Winter Potluck: Feb. 16th

UPDATE: Thanks for the overwhelming response to the KhushDC potluck on Saturday, February 16th!  Unfortunately, we have reached maximum capacity and cannot take any more RSVPs. However, if you would like to be added to the wait list in case anyone cancels, please email secretary@khushdc.org.  For those that have received confirmation of your RSVP, but need directions, contact info, etc. please email secretary@khushdc.org or board@khushdc.org.  Please also let us know if you cancel last minute so that we can let folks on the wait list attend. Cheers! -updated Feb. 12, 2013

Join us for KhushDC's End-of-Winter Dinner-Potluck on Saturday, February 16th at 7:00pm. Please remember to RSVP to attend before space fills up! More information below:

Has this cold Northern winter got you down? Did Valentine's Day leave you all worked up? Well, not to worry--we at KhushDC will warm you up in the spirit of Mardi Gras (or perhaps Maagh Mela, or perhaps Goan Carnival) with our "Winter Farewell" dinner party!

This event will take place the a metro-accessible part of Northeast DC (Eckington/Edgewood). Out of consideration for privacy, the address is not posted here, but will be sent out after you RSVP. The space is capped at 28 people, so please be sure to RSVP soon! Biryani (both veg and non-veg) will be provided courtesy of KhushDC. Guests are encouraged (but not required) to bring either a small appetizer, dessert, or drink. Please RSVP to secretary@khushdc.org with your name and what you might bring (don’t worry, you can change it later).

The host happens to have tabla, harmonium, guitars and a piano in his home. For those of you who can play some other musical instrument, feel free to bring it along.

This event is limited to KhushDC members and their partners and/or immediate families.

Please contact Rashad (secretary@khushdc.org) if you have any questions, thoughts, or requests.

New Year Happy Hour -- Balle Balle!

Happy Holidays, KhushDC!

Join us as we celebrate the new year at Larry's Lounge on Saturday, January 5th at 8pm. We'll have Bollywood, bhangra, and other desi beats playing downstairs.

After Larry's, some of us will be heading to Black Cat to get our bhangra on with DJ Rekha and Panjabi MC.

The happy hour is free to attend, but you'll have to purchase tickets for Black Cat here if you wish to go to the later event: http://www.blackcatdc.com/shows/rekha.html. (We recommend purchasing tickets in advance, just in case.)

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/events/441159869284301