Gazal Dhaliwal is a trans writer who has made it in Bollywood. In this conversation, she reflects on her journey, craft, and the delicate balance of being political in mainstream cinema
CultureQueer History
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What they say, what they don’t, how you can protect yourself
LawThe amendment’s push for medical validation clashes with how gender identity is lived in the region.
LawAs gender affirming care has already been disrupted nationwide, we need the health ministry to intervene urgently, said Sanjay Sharma, head of the Association for Transgender Health in India
HealthTrans people nationwide continue to strategise on the way forward; many express confusion about medical transition processes
CultureParliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Claims Trans Bill 2026 discussed by standing committee for over a year; members say otherwise
LawCongress, DMK, and NCP(SP) leaders held separate meetings with trans activists; politicians from across opposition parties have critiqued the Bill publicly
LawA central idea in each story.
An in-depth look into the deaths of two trans women–one in Kolkata and another in Goa–reveals how trans people face systemic violence in death, as they do in life
BodiesTrans masc persons struggle to be seen and desired as masculine while they resist toxic tropes. Will cishet and queer communities catch up?
RelationshipsSometimes, love looks like someone holding your hand through a panic attack
RelationshipsThe collective behind Bengaluru Pride has split into two factions. queerbeat examines the undercurrents that led to the split and what it reveals about the queer movement.
Queer RightsIndia’s new criminal code fails to protect LGBTQ+ folks from rape. Everybody agrees it’s a problem. Few agree on the solution. How did we get here?
LawQueer love is often forbidden in small town India. Two women, separated by caste, class, and religion, dared to defy the order.
CasteA campaign by It’s Ok To Talk and queerbeat, featuring personal essays from young people about their experiences with queerness and mental health.
The Rainbow Awards for Literature & Journalism
The Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity
ACJ Awards Special Mention - Social Impact Journalism