Sonal Giani

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Sonal Giani
NationalityIndian
OccupationLGBTQ rights activist
Website sonalgiani.com

Sonal Giani is an Indian LGBTQ activist and actress. Known for her advocacy and youth work, she focuses on the social impact of India's anti-LGBTQ law, Section 377. She is the co-founder of LGBTQ youth initiatives Yaariyan and Umangin.

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Early life

Giani grew up in Goa, India and has a twin sister. [1] She came out to first her mother, followed by her father after the Delhi High Court judgement which struck down Section 377. [2] At age 19, she was outed without her consent, leading to feelings of depression. [3] She describes facing backlash, including sexual harassment and finding graffiti aimed at her in washrooms. [4]

Personal life

In 2013, Giani appeared in the reality television show Connected Hum Tum. [5] The program followed Giani for over a year, documenting her life and her relationship with her female partner at the time. [6] Giani also discussed her bisexuality on the show. [5]

Career and activism

Giani worked as an advocacy manager at the Humsafar Trust, a nonprofit that works to improve LGBTQ rights. [6] She cites this job as helping herself heal and "dream of a bias-free, equal world". [2] In her role, Giani provided assistance to people facing blackmail or extortion under Indian law based on their sexuality. [7]

The root of this widespread discrimination and marginalization against LBT individuals is not because of hatred amongst the society but because of their utter ignorance towards it.

Sonal Giani [8]

Giani is a co-founder of Yaariyan and Umang, two LGBTQ youth groups in Mumbai. [9] In 2023, she became the delegate for Asia and the Pacific on the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board. [10] She also works at International Planned Parenthood Federation as a senior advisor. [4]

Giani considers same-sex marriage a "distant dream" in India, and the lack of this right as a cause of discrimination against LGBTQ people. [11] She cites the need to educate others to address these root causes, both in terms of sex education and better understanding of LGBTQ individuals. [8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Maheshwri, Neha (June 11, 2013). "Connected Hum Tum: Meet the superwomen". indiatimes.com . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  2. 1 2 De, Hemchhaya (November 6, 2018). "I was outed without my consent: Sonal Giani". Femina . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ Magan, Srishti (June 11, 2019). "17 Indian LGBTQI+ Trailblazers Whose Courage Helped Others Love & Live Freely". ScoopWhoop . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 S, Vidya; Mitter, Sohini (April 30, 2023). "LGBTQ+ employees are finding acceptance in Indian companies, but inclusivity challenges exist still". Business Today . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Fernandes, Kasmin (October 19, 2020). "6 most prominent Indian LGBT activists". TheCSRJournal.in. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Iyer, Harish (February 5, 2018). "Out and Proud: Sonal Giani on how she came to terms with her sexuality, and found happiness". Firstpost . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ Dore, Bhavya (November 3, 2015). "How Section 377 Is Being Exploited By The Police and Blackmailers To Extort Men". The Caravan . Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Khandelwal, Krishti (June 26, 2023). "Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment of Lesbians, Bisexuals Women and Transmasculine Community in India – IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute". ImpriInsights.in. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ S, Lekshmi Priya (June 23, 2017). "8 Inspiring Indian LGBTQ Individuals Who Raged Fearless Wars & Emerged Victorious!". The Better India . Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Meet Sonal Giani, our new NGO Delegate for Asia & the Pacific". unaidspcbngo.org. Archived from the original on June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ Ratnam, Dhamini (July 11, 2015). "Rainbow Wedding". Mint . Retrieved June 7, 2025.
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