India has a limited culture for LGBTQIA people due to widespread stigma, stemming from colonialism, in the modern-day populace. However living conditions and media representation have been improving in recent years, especially in terms of representation of transgender people.

Social media and urban centers are important hubs of the LGBTQ+ movement. In India, city hubs have helped the community gain visibility since the 1970s. Since the early 2000s, social media and online venues have played a critical role in strengthening LGBTQ+ communities and identities in these cities.

As celebrations for Pride month are on the rise, here are some NGOs working to support the community. 

Nazaria 

Founded in 2014, Nazaria is a queer feminist support group, which works for lesbian bisexual women and trans people who are assigned female at birth. They look at gender as beyond a binary concept and are trying to help people who face stigma because of their sexual orientation and gender assigned at birth.

The Bi-Collective 

They are a community collective working for bisexual, bi+, bi-curious and pansexual people in and around Delhi. Their aim is to

create a safe space for people of the community, a place where they can express themselves freely.

Naz Foundation 

Naz is one the leading NGOs working for the causes related to HIV/AIDS and stigma against people of the LGBTQAI+ community. They hold sessions to sensitise people about these topics and help them learn about co-existing with the queer community. 

Naz was also the NGO which filed a petition challenging the constitutionality of section 377, which criminalised gay sex.

The Humsafar Trust 

The trust says 'your identity is a reason for pride, not a reason to hide' and started its operations in 1994. They run workshops for legislators, politicians, media - among others - to sensitise them on issues related to the queer community. 

Apart from this, they also run support groups, like 'YAARIYAN for young LGBTQ people, UMANG for LBT persons and SANJEEVANI for persons living with HIV'.

Sappho for Equality 

Founded in 2003 and operating out of Kolkata, this is an NGO working towards 'bridging the gulf between the queer and the non-queer parts of the society in India'. Their aim is to help the sexually marginalized women and female to male transpersons in getting their rights and an equal status in the society. 

They organize film festivals, discussions to sensitize people about these issues.