We are excited to present Shaam-e-Queer this Pride season through a collaboration between the South Asia Institute, Trikone Chicago, and Desi Rainbow.
The evening will begin with Centering Joy: Queer Spaces in 2026, a panel discussion featuring organizers and activists from Desi Rainbow and Trikone Chicago. Together, they will explore how queer South Asian communities are cultivating spaces for joy, resilience, care, and belonging within today’s political and cultural landscape.
Following the discussion, the night will continue with drag performances by Chicago-based South Asian drag artists, celebrating self-expression, artistry, and queer pride.
The event will also feature an archival table highlighting materials and histories connected to Chicago’s South Asian queer community, offering attendees an opportunity to engage with the stories, organizing, and cultural memory that continue to shape the city’s South Asian LGBTQ+ landscape.
At a time when queer communities continue to create spaces of affirmation and solidarity, Shaam-e-Queer centers joy as an act of presence, resistance, and celebration. Through dialogue, performance, and archival exploration, the evening invites attendees to reflect on the richness and diversity of South Asian queer experiences across generations.
We invite you to join us in celebrating South Asian queer joy in all its forms during Pride Month.