Celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month with Me

[Rahul001]

cover photo of celebrate lgbtq+ history month with me

Hy Local Guides,

This month is known as LGBTQ+ History Month (October). This month is to honour the achievements, struggles and contributions of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queer people and non-binary people. The month of June is focused on Pride Month to conduct pride marches across countries. This month is regarded as many lgbtq+ related days in October.

1. October 8: International Lesbian Day
2. October 11: Coming Out Day
3. Third Wednesday in October: International Pronouns Day

There are many important days that are focused on each country but these 3 are the important days.

As there’s post of me “Come out on this Pride Month” during the Pride Month (June), I shall again go through what we as a local guide can help Lgbtq community and as an individual.

Aim:

• To know about lgbtq culture and history.
• Promote equality and acceptance.
• Educate about lgbtq+ issues and challenges.

How to observe:

• Attend rallies and events in History Month (most of the cities in India are conducting this month).
• Support the LGBTQ community and its organizations.

lgbtq+ photo placed inside Eve’s Coffee Shop.

How as a local guide we can help/observe:

• We can add features to a business/shop, whether it is ‘lgbtq friendly’ or not. It is in the ‘About’ section of a business/shop.
• We can also add features to businesses/shops, whether it is ‘transgender safespace’ or not. You can also find or edit this feature as the same as ‘lgbtq friendly’ in the About section.
• To know more about how you can help lgbtq buisnesses and community, check out Tiffany’s post - How to help LGBTQ+ businesses stand out.
• Try to share a Map List that shows Lgbtq friendly shops around you or places you visited with your friends and families (try to include lgbtq icon if possible as a list icon- ).

I think Google maps really helps to create a safe and friendly environment for lgbtq community. Environment means to be business/shops which would be lgbtq or transgender friendly. By doing that community will be more diverse and sooner the people who are in lgbtq+ spectrum comes out of closet (a term used for opening up your stand in Lgbtq community).

If any lgbtq+ community person is seeing this post, I kindly request you to comment down here about your views and thoughts. I forgot to tell you that I am a non-binary person.

If I made any mistake in this post, please free to correct me in the comments.

Comment down here on how you think Google maps helps LGBTQ community and businesses/shops. Also share any images regarding to lgbtq+ that you seen in a businesses/shops.

[Anil6969]

Dear @Rahul001

First of all let me congratulate you outright for taking courage to right this post ,

Yes we do have LGBTQ+ In our LG community too as I know them personally respecting their identity not mentioning or tagging them.

Indeed we can do a lot as to support diversity,

I had participated and promoted them by attending their seminar and encourage them for learning through my motivational session, however they are little reserved due to the social injustice,don’t mix up easily.

But they are also human.

We all must respect and treat like common human .

If you need any kind of support from my level I will be there to promote it out.

Since most of the way you have already suggested majority covered.

Hence not repeating the same.

However will suggest like an accessibility this LGBTQ+ should be promoted though Google had already given an option through map to promote it.

Regards

Anil6969.

[Rahul001]

So glad to see your comment @Anil6969 sir. You are absolutely correct and a gem of this community. As I am also from lgbtq community and as a non-binary person, I am so thrilled to have this post. Truth is, indirectly “lgbtq friendly” has been good over since it make out. Most of the business/shops I visited knew about it and half of them also impliments it. If possible, you can share the link to those from the community and we can have comment section about how they view about the features.

[Anil6969]

I will try forsure @Rahul001

You are my lovely buddy.

Keep helping the community.

Regards

Anil6969

[TusharSuradkar]

Excellent post, dear @Rahul001

I remember a metro station in Delhi that had the entire staff as LGBTQ community:

It is Noida Sector 50 metro station.

I had also written a post about it long time back.

I wish we could visit here while in Delhi.

Here’s is an informative Connect post:

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/The-Pride-Metro-Station-in-Delhi-for-the-LGBTQ-Community/m-p/2983081

[ShreyaMusings]

Hi,

Thanks for taking up this initiative. I fully support the LGBTQ community, however people still don’t feel safe at their workplace or staying alone in PG.

Firstly, I would like tell that from my observation most of the younger generations don’t want to accept their sexual orientation. As they fear no one would understand.

Secondly, the fear from society about how to present themselves. The way they(people from LGBTQ) think is way more different in terms of maturity, dressing up, being conservative.

Thirdly, workspace harassment should stop, eavesdropping should be stopped. This will help them be more comfortable in their own skin so they can also go out freely and have fun like other families.

New steps that can make them feel safe:

• spread awareness - support groups, meet ups in cafes, nukkad natak showcasing the real life experience and how to overcome it.

• talk about how to deal with anxiety and depression when unable to express themselves.

• LGBTQ same sex marriage and adoption of kids to be legalised in our country.

• Create a LGBTQ helpline to provide emotional support to anyone who is feeling isolated and traumatized by the incidents happened in their life.

I have been a part of this community for more than 25 years now and have worked with people to make them feel safe. Sharing some photos I took with my friend who is also a proud part of this community.

birthday celebration for a very special person

five out of 6 people in this pic are from LGBTQ COMMUNITY

at Amoeba Gurugram meeting with Lqbtq friends for bowling

1. •

[Rahul001]

Thank you @TusharSuradkar for your valuable comment. I seen that in newspaper that Noida metro station had gave jobs to lgbtq+ community. I think because of that, metro station in kochi ( Kerala) also gave jobs to Transgenders. We all wanted queer friendly and trans safe space in our community.

[Rahul001]

Thank you @ShreyaMusings for your valuable comments and sharing your friends images. You well described what we need and what we face as a community and individual. For me, Google maps and local guide connect is much more safe place. I hope that would be same for you and others out there.

[ShreyaMusings]

Yes ofcourse @Rahul001 Google maps has helped a lot but most of the time I or my friends call first to check if the place is safe to go or not. As going with blind faith may cause a lot of Trouble. It’s better to update all the information we can get about the places LGBTQ community is welcomed .

[AjitThite]

A great initiative my friend, @Rahul001 and I am happy to see someone here in India is taking a bold step to spread the awareness among the local guides. Proud of you.

My best wishes to you and suggesting that go ahead and make an impact by adding more and more LGBTQ+ ownership businesses to the Google Maps. I will be there to help you anytime.

Just remember, you’re blessed.

Cheers!

[Gurukrishnapriya]

Well said @Rahul001 yes through Google Maps we can help this community. We have to respect everyone. As you said promote and acceptance is the need of the hour. In India it’s a long way to go, though there is importance to these people in our culture. Thanks for sharing awareness. I appreciate your efforts. Worldwide this community is gaining momentum.

[Rahul001]

Thank you @AjitThite for your valuable comment. You actually point out something I forgot to mention that there is ‘LGBTQ owned’ business like ‘women owned’ . Without you guys supporting, I won’t be still here. I always wanted to thank you about supporting small local business and take it as a initiation.

[Rahul001]

Thank you @Gurukrishnapriya for sharing your comment. Your are correct as acceptance and promotion is important key for lgbtq society.

[Gurukrishnapriya]

Yes we Local Gides are here @Rahul001 . Our Local Guides Community unites everyone throughout the world. We support each other.

Origami flowers made by me. Cheer up.

[ShreyaMusings]

They are very beautiful…#pride

[PrasadVR]

Hello @Rahul001 , I sincerely appreciate your efforts and the post on LGBTQ+. Unfortunately, the activities related to LGBTQ+ are not visible here in my region. Long way to go, they will come openly and seek support. You have shared lot of photos of your friends in this post, I would like to know, have you taken consent from them to display publicly.

[PrasadVR]

@ShreyaMusings , I am pleased to see you are also actively supporting the LGBTQ+. Please ensure you have the consent of the individuals who are appearing in your photos, because to protect their privacy.

[ShreyaMusings]

Yes i totally understand and respect the consent of the other person @PrasadVR