Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies

Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies is a national organization for South Asian families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning individuals to learn about LGBTQ+ issues, find community with one another and learn how to better support their loved ones. We serve Desi individuals and families who trace their origins to South Asia.  Our mission is to foster understanding and acceptance among families, with the goal of affirming and celebrating our LGBTQ+ loved ones. 

Our work is virtual and global. We host monthly online support groups for parents and family members of LGBTQ+ individuals, for LGBTQ+ people who are struggling with family acceptance and for allies who want to know how to make a difference. We offer programs like Proud Possibilities, featuring LGBTQ+ possibility models; Desi Rainbow Storytime for children and their parents, Faith & Family to celebrate Desi holidays and promote inclusion, as well as speaker events featuring topics such as mental health, raising transgender children and much more. 

Our story started with the experience of one Desi mother who struggled to find support from her community. Not finding anything, she decided to start her own community resource. Now, we are a growing group of Desi parents, allies and LGBTQ+ people all dedicated to the idea that being proud and visible, supporting others and telling our stories will transform the lives of LGBTQ+ children of all ages, and of their families. 

Our members are mostly in the United States and Canada, but our reach extends to other countries and continents where there is a South Asian diaspora. We welcome and celebrate diversity of religion, class, caste and experience, and are united by our desire to support our Desi children and loved ones.