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TRIKONE BOARD MEMBERS |
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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.
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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! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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