“For me, #Pridemonth is a space which is for allies to show themselves up for the queer community. It’s a reminder that Pride is a protest and each year there is a new fight the community takes to ensure we get equal rights. Pride for me is being a proud trans-non-binary bisexual person and being true to celebrating my identity.

Talking about the legalization of Same-sex marriage in India, I certainly believe it’s the need of the hour. It’s important to have the right to choose a partner as a basic human right. It’s high time we achieve marriage equality, as it would not only benefit gay or lesbian couples but also the overall queer community, especially transgender and bisexual individuals in a marital setup.

As a bisexual trans person myself, I often find it challenging to conform to conventional marriage norms and roles since they are not recognized. It’s not a happy experience to hide my sexuality while navigating non-queer, toxic heterosexual spaces. Legalizing same-sex marriages would make unions like ours ethical and ensure protection under the law.

Moreover, there are a lot of things that need to be addressed for the rights of the queer community. The latest is the trans Horizontal reservation where trans people aren’t given an equal chance. Also with state-owned Garima Greh being closed due to lack of funds, there is still a lot queer people need to fight for upcoming days to achieve equality.

Talking about my recent activities, I have been performing in multiple corporates, touring Banglore, Chennai, and Mumbai, and spreading my wigs of art. I aim to present my drag across Telugu states so I am looking forward to traveling more and more. Last, but not the least, I also became a father, and that’s a journey of being a parent I started embarking on!”

Featuring Patruni Chidananda Sastry