Author Description

Product Description From being shunned in the society to being called hijjras, these gay icons have faced it all to eventually come out (not from a revolving door, but) for themselves. For a long time, they have been drowning in a hope to be acknowledged once in their lifetimes as human beings. Finally, with the landmark reading down of Section 377 in September 2018 they could breathe in the air of freedom. This book is a celebration of these twenty-two extraordinary Indian personalities from the queer community who have risen above hardships, both in their professional and personal lives, and fought for their rights. Their lives will touch you emotionally and make you live and love on your own terms. They are dancers, poets, writers, dramatists, social servants, painters, designers and exceptional in their respective fields. These icons deserve to be applauded and their journeys acknowledged as they are the harbingers of this rich queer culture in India. About the Author Hoshang Merchant is the author of Yaraana: Gay Writing from India, Forbidden Sex, Forbidden Texts: New India's Gay Poets and The Man Who Would Be Queen. A well-known poet and teacher, he has published over twenty books of poetry. He recently retired from the University of Hyderabad after for twenty-six years. Akshaya K. Rath is Assistant Professor of English and teaches creative writing, gender and sexualities at NIT Rourkela. His book Secret Writings of Hoshang Merchant was published in 2016.