About the Book A STEP-BY-STEP MANUAL FOR BUILDING INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES—AND A LESS UNEQUAL WORLD. The reading down of Section 377 by the Supreme Court in 2018 has led to a fundamental shift in the rights of India’s LGBTQ citizens and necessitated policy changes across the board—not least in the conservative world of Indian business. In this path-breaking and genre-defying book, Parmesh Shahani draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as an out and proud gay man, to make a cogent case for LGBTQ inclusion and lay down a step-by-step guide to reshaping office culture in India. He talks to inclusion champions and business leaders about how they worked towards change; traces the benefits reaped by industry giants like Godrej, Tata Steel, IBM, Wipro, the Lalit group of hotels and many others who have tapped into the power of diversity; and shares the stories of employees whose lives were revolutionised by LGBTQ-friendly workspaces. In this affecting memoir-cum-manifesto, Shahani animates the data and strategy with intimate stories of love and family. Even as it becomes an expansive reference book of history, literature, cinema, movements, institutions and icons of the LGBTQ community, Queeristan drives home a singular point—in diversity and inclusion lies the promise of an equitable and profitable future, for companies, their employees and the society at large.

"The reading down of Section 377 by the Supreme Court in 2018 has led to a fundamental shift in the rights of India’s LGBTQ citizens and necessitated policy changes across the board—not least in the conservative world of Indian business. In this path-breaking and genre-defying book, Parmesh Shahani—vice president at Godrej Industries Ltd—draws from his decade-long journey in the corporate world as an out and proud gay man, to make a cogent case for LGBTQ inclusion and lay down a step-by-step guide to reshaping office culture in India. He talks to inclusion champions and business leaders about how they worked towards change; traces the benefits reaped by industry giants like Godrej, Tata Steel, IBM, Wipro, the Lalit group of hotels and many others who have tapped into the power of diversity; and shares the stories of employees whose lives were revolutionised by LGBTQ-friendly workspaces. In this affecting memoir-cum-manifesto, Shahani animates the data and strategy with intimate stories of love and family. Even as it becomes an expansive reference book of history, literature, cinema, movements, institutions and icons of the LGBTQ community, Queeristan drives home a singular point—in diversity and inclusion lies the promise of an equitable and profitable future, for companies, their employees and the society at large."--Back cover.

This book uses narratives collected over a period of four years, detailing the stereotypes and stigmas attached to LGBTQ employees at the workplace in India, and it allows their voices to be heard. Further, it explores the strategies used by individuals from the LGBTQ community to pass on or reveal information related to their non-normative sexual orientation and gender identity at their workplace, and the way these strategies differ for individuals who are formally or informally 'out' as compared to those who are still in the closet or have come out to only a few people at their organization. The book emphasizes the need to study the flow of information and stigma management strategies in the context of current technological advancements, and discusses the extent to which organizations succeed in providing 'safe spaces' for employees from the LGBTQ community in India. Also addressing the impact of the Supreme Court verdict on Section 377 of the IPC and the NALSA verdict on LGBTQ individuals at the workplace, the book not only provides tools to help organizations assess their workplace climate with regard to LGBTQ inclusion and diversity, but also outlines the criteria that would lead to queer-friendly and gender-neutral work environments.

THE BOOK OF PRIDE captures the true story of the gay rights movement from the 1960s to the present, through richly detailed, stunning interviews with the leaders, activists, and ordinary people who witnessed the movement and made it happen. These individuals fought battles both personal and political, often without the support of family or friends, frequently under the threat of violence and persecution. By shining a light on these remarkable stories of bravery and determination, THE BOOK OF PRIDE not only honors an important chapter in American history, but also empowers young people today (both LGBTQ and straight) to discover their own courage in order to create positive change. Furthermore, it serves a critically important role in ensuring the history of the LGBTQ movement can never be erased, inspiring us to resist all forms of oppression with ferocity, community, and, most importantly, pride

I speak because we need to be heard, I write because we need to be understood, I dare because we need to survive. – Kalki Subramaniam ‘We Are Not The Others’ is a strikingly moving book that touches the heart of its readers, and takes them on a furious and empathetic journey into the personal lives of transgender people of India. It is a one-of-a-kind book from India’s renowned transgender rights activist Kalki Subramaniam who blatantly and honestly speaks about the joys, hopes, struggles, and despair of a transgender person, the author herself, and ferociously upholds her dignity and that of others like her.

equALLY: Stories by Friends of the Queer World is a first-of-its-kind anthology of powerful personal stories by individuals who have stood up and spoken for the LGBT+ community, and created safe spaces at home, schools, colleges, workplaces, and in society. The book features 45 authentic stories of influencers, corporate leaders, parents, teachers, teenagers, and celebrates life experiences, perspectives, and sentiments of their journey to 'allyship'. Each tale in this book is an inspiration, a motivation, and a reminder that there are people across the country for whom the aspect of an individual's identity and existence is imperative. Conveying their solidarity towards the LGBT+ community through their written experience of realisation and transformation into an Ally makes this more than just a book-it is a significant milestone on the path towards inclusion. Everyone has 'ally' stories to tell and we recognise that with each retelling, these stories create stronger connections, inclusion and bring about change. This is not just a book, but a movement!

...the rest shall follow Deep, an awkward young man obsessed with libraries and books, has his dream come true when he is sent to Hong Kong on an internship programme. Leaving behind jealous but encouraging friends, a supportive father and a hysterical, overprotective mother, Deep makes his first flight to a foreign land. And then he sees her, Ahana, a stunningly beautiful girl. But Deep also has to come to terms with another reality: Ahana is blind. Together they explore Hong Kong, Ahana guiding them with the smells and sounds of the wondrous city and Deep bringing to life for her the delightful sights he sees. They're living a dream, till Aveek, her gorgeeus ex-boyfriend, comes back into her life. Hold My Hand is a delightful young romance with a surprise ending.