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TRIKONE BOARD MEMBERS Whats New

 

 

Chandra

chandra [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: male/ GAY/ India
Board member since May 2008
Volunteer for Jashn 2007, KK 2007, Planning Committee KK 2008

Trikone has been a constant presence in my life ever since I moved to the Bay Area. As a board member of Trikone, I would like to make Trikone's functioning more transparent and increase member involvement in supporting Trikone by participating, volunteering and donating for the events and thus creating a sense of belonging within the community.

 

 

POONAM

poonam [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: 29, Lesbian
Member since 2008
Women-of-Trikone, Desi Dyke Brunch Host 2007

Trikone has allowed me to embrace my three cultures; desi, queer and american. The challenging tasks of reconciling these three cultures has made me more aware of the different influences effecting each of us and has made me passionate about celebrating our diversity!

I hope to serve as a voice for South Asian queer women that suffer from archaic stereotypes and assist them in identifying healthy outlets for dealing with various issues impacting them. I want my South Asian sisters to know that Trikone is in solidarity with them!

 

 

ABHAY

abhay [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: 31, gay
Board Member since Feb 2008
V olunteer for Jashn 2007

Trikone has provided a forum for desi LGBT members to find friends, companions and support for years now. As a Board member in 2008 I hope to work with my fellow Board members to expand that sense of community to include other volunteer organizations in the Bay Area and the nascent LGBT movements in South Asia.

 

 

RAKESH MODI

rakesh [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: 38 years old/Male/Queer
Trikone Co-Chair
Board member since Jul 2005
DesiQ2006 Steering Committee, DesiQ2000 Steering, Program, and Banquet Committees

"The South Asian LGBT community is like an extended family to me; after all we've gotta take care of each other."

I've been asked to write a bio for the website, and so, be prepared for all the raunchy gory details of the sensational, sexy, scandalous stories of my life! But wait a minute... for that, you'll have to patiently wait for my autobiography. Until then, here's a skimpy g-string-like short, watered down and censored version of who I am.

I grew up in Bombay as the older son of conservative parents who, like everyone else wanted me to be a doctor, engineer or a Chartered Accountant, and make millions of bucks. So, I chose the last option (not the millions bucks, but to be a CA). Meanwhile, en route to becoming a CA, I was also discovering that I was attracted to boys. Thus began my teenage life of sex with a friend, then a relationship (and break up) with my girlfriend, and finally the acceptance of my sexuality, all before I turned 21.

Once self acceptance was out of the way, began another journey... of working with the first ever gay newsletter in India, called Bombay Dost. Together with pioneers of the Indian queer movement like Ashok Row Kavi, and others, I got seriously involved in activism, setting up the Humsafar Trust, doing peer counselling, setting up a helpline and undergoing counselling training with some top name psychologists in Bombay, and also from ILGYO at Strasbourg, France.

Which is why, when I moved to the Bay Area, I had to be involved with Trikone, initially volunteering with events like DesiQ2000 & DesiQ2007 and QFilmistan, and finally by serving on the board as a co-chairperson. I feel like there's a lot more that needs to be done personally as well as for our community. So, here I am again .. serving the community as a Trikone board member.

 

 

Prithi

priti [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: 31, bisexual
Part of Trikone as: Board Member since Feb 2008, volunteer for Jashn 2007, volunteer for Pride 2007

Nirvana sang "Come as you are" and we in Trikone live it! Its the acceptance, inclusiveness, and happiness in knowing and being with like-minded friends that makes Trikone a dynamic living organization that redefines itself based on the LGBT community's needs. I would like to work with all on the Board to extend this comforting social environment to each and every South Asian who is ready and willing to be a part of it here and around the world.

 

 

Rahman

rahman [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: Gay
Part of Trikone as: Board Member since Aug 2006, volunteer for Jashn 2007, volunteer for Pride 2007

Growing up in PESHAWAR, Pakistan, I had no idea what "gay" meant. I heard occasional whispers of a cousin here, or an uncle there, who was "like that". All men, never women and never transgender folk. Like what, I wondered. Lying? Alcohol? Govinda's hairstyle? How bad could it be to have no name? No one elaborated, but somehow, I realized I too was "like that".

Out of the blue, I found a word for it in an entry titled "Homosexuality" in Readers Digest Encyclopedia. The entry used strange words: genitalia, hormones, puberty. Like the plastic and stainless steel we came to dread at our Dentist's office.

This entry, too, never talked about women or the gender queer.

Later, in the US, I realized queer women, men, and trans folk were anything but plastic and steel. I realized that, as a community, we were more passionate and empathetic than just about any other.

But something was missing. All the Desi people I knew were straight, and all my queer friends weren't Desi. Since we Desi's do take up oh, a quarter of humanity, it seemed impossible for the two not to intersect. But somehow, they didn't. I came to think of these two elemental parts of me in terms of an old hindi song: two shores of a river, running in parallel over half the world, but never meeting.

Then came Trikone, and the two sides met in some of the most inspirational, non-judgemental, welcoming and beautiful people I have met. Friends who are determined to welcome you as you are. Trikone makes me proud to be myself. I hope it can do the same for you.


   

Rashmi Ray

rashmi [at] trikone [dot] org
Stats: Lesbian

Board member since April 2009

I am highly impressed by the Trikone activities. I participated in the Trikone events directly and indirectly for last few years. My board experience is juvenile and I am looking forward to playing a bigger role in Trikone as the web specialist.