Day 161: South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association Protests, Manhattan, New York
📌APIA Every Day (161) - Madison Square Park in Manhattan became a central location for the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association’s (SALGA) protests after the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) banned them from the India Day Parade. Originally founded as the South Asian Gay Association (SAGA) in 1989, it was renamed in 1991 to include lesbian members. SALGA serves Desi LGBT people from countries like Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka, as well as those of South Asian descent from places like Guyana and Trinidad. When SALGA applied to march in the India Day Parade in 1993, they were rejected despite having marched in 1992 after intervention by the New York City Human Rights Commission. The FIA stipulated that SALGA could only participate if its members did not carry signs stating their homosexuality, which the group refused, highlighting issues of homophobia within the community.
In response to continued exclusion from the parade, SALGA formed the South Asian Progressive Task Force in 1997 to combat discrimination. Despite being allowed to march in 2000, they were denied again in 2009, leading to silent protests along the parade route that garnered media attention. In 2010, hours before the parade, SALGA was granted permission to march again. SALGA remains active in Pride marches across New York City, advocating for visibility and acceptance within the broader community, and often organizes protest marches along the India Day Parade route with support from groups like SAKHI for South Asian Women.
LEARN MORE:
NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project: Desi Dhamaka Protests at Madison Square Park
APA NYU: SALGA-NYC, Serving the Queer Desi Community Records
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