NAHARLAGUN, 23 Aug: 'Queers Ki Kahani - Our Voice, Our Story', a community-driven gathering organised by AP QueerStation, was held on Sunday at Your Favourite Café here.

Unlike a formal programme, the gathering was an intimate and informal space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to share stories, poetry, shayari, conversations and personal experiences.

The session focused on creating a space where queer individuals could speak openly about their lives without fear of judgement or criticism. Members shared experiences of pain, loss, coming out, lack of family and social support, abuse, mental health struggles and other challenges faced within a largely heteronormative society.

"We often don't get the opportunity to share our insights and experiences with anyone without being judged or criticised. Queers Ki Kahani is about creating that space within our own community - a space where we can listen to each other, understand each other and simply be there for one another. For 365 days of the year, we navigate a cis-heteronormative society, and gatherings like these give us a rare opportunity to open up, express ourselves and, for many, simply be who we are. In fact, some members even had to tell their families that they were attending another programme because they could not openly say they were coming to a queer gathering," said one of the participants.

The informal session was hosted by Toriq Bomshok, who briefed the participants on the purpose of the gathering and emphasised the importance of solidarity, respect and community support.

The programme was followed by an address by Sawang Wangchha, after which several members of the community shared their personal stories, thoughts and experiences.

Queers Ki Kahani is dedicated to members of the LGBTQIA+ community who continue to navigate discrimination, isolation, rejection and other struggles in their everyday lives. The gathering also remembered community members whose lives were lost to suicide in recent months, acknowledging their lives and the grief carried by those who knew them.

"AP QueerStation has continued to work towards creating safe and inclusive spaces for indigenous queer people and the wider LGBTQIA+ community in Arunachal Pradesh through community gatherings, advocacy, storytelling, sensitisation programmes and collective action," it stated in a release.

The community reiterated its belief in 'Hate is a sin and love is love', while emphasising that solidarity and mutual respect remain at the heart of its work.

Speaking about the need for queer communities to claim their own spaces and rights, Wangchha said that in a deeply heteronormative society, safe spaces and rights are rarely handed to marginalised communities. They have to come together, demand them and create them.

The gathering concluded on a positive note, with participants sharing hope for the future and a renewed sense of community.

The organisers expressed their gratitude to the owners and staff of Your Favourite Café for not only hosting Queers Ki Kahani, but also for continuing to maintain a queer-friendly environment in their everyday operations. The café has become a welcoming and safe space for many members of the queer community in Arunachal.