In this episode of "Queer Story Time," Stevie interviews Alyy Patel, a queer South Asian gender-fluid individual, about their experiences and perspectives on identity, culture, and spirituality.

Key Points Discussed:

Navigating Dual Identities:

Alyy shares their journey of discovering and embracing both their queerness and South Asian identity, rejecting the idea that they must compromise one for the other.

Impact of Colonialism:

They discuss how colonialism influenced their family's perspectives on queerness, emphasizing that resistance to queerness in their community often stems from colonial history.

Spirituality and Queerness:

Alyy finds peace through spirituality, noting that their religion inherently includes queer elements.

Queer Community Visibility:

Alyy stresses the importance of queer South Asian visibility and encourages others to protect themselves while living authentically, even if it means living a double life.

Policy and Lawmakers:

Alyy criticizes lawmakers who create anti-queer legislation, urging them to use research and engage with queer communities to make informed decisions.

Coming Out Advice for Queer Youth:

Alyy advises queer and trans South Asian youth to prioritize safety and financial security, challenging the Western narrative that coming out is necessary for queer validity.

Future Aspirations:

Alyy hopes to continue advocating for queer South Asian visibility and to speak on larger platforms to share their message.

Connect with Alyy:

Instagram @alyypatel

Visit their website - www.alyypatel.com

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Host: Stevie Inghram, M.S., YT, AWC, NMS-4 (they/them or she/her)