JUNE 20 - JULY 27, 2024

Curated by Ankit Khadgi

In 1986, Ifti Nasim and Viru Joshi co-founded Sangat at a time when only a handful of South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals were openly living their lives. The pervasive queerphobia and frequent hate crimes across the country posed significant risks, making visibility dangerous. Although Chicago boasted numerous gay bars and clubs, these spaces were predominantly white and often unwelcoming to South Asians. Nevertheless, Nasim and Viru took a leap of faith and decided to create a community, making their organization the first LGBTQ+ group for South Asians in the city,

Over the years, various groups and communities have emerged, enriching Chicago's diverse cultural landscape. In the 1990s, Neena Hemmady and Leema Khan co-founded Khuli Zuban, Chicago's first South Asian LGBTQ+ organization for women, pioneering intersectional activism in the community. Building on their groundwork, the 2000s saw the rise of Trikone Chicago, which brought Bollywood drag to the forefront and demonstrated that activism could thrive in private spaces through events like potlucks.

However, this rich history of LGBTQ+ organizing among South Asians who have made this city, Chicago, their home, lacks broader recognition and acknowledgment.

“People Who Came Before Us”, an archival exhibition, is an attempt to disseminate and educate audiences about the rich contributions of South Asian LGBTQ+ activists and organizers who have actively organized and created spaces for each other in this city.

This exhibition will serve as a visual repository to remind generations of Chicagoans of the long history of South Asian LGBTQ+ activism in the city and how the generations that came before us supported and stood by each other even when they did not have access to resources, knowledge, and power.

Lastly, this exhibition through a diverse array of archival materials such as photos, videos, flyers, and personal memorabilia, complemented by engaging sit-and-learn installations, offers a unique visual journey into the diverse history of Chicago’s South Asian American LGBTQ+ communities and their numerous community building initiatives.

By reimagining how LGBTQ+ history looked visually, this exhibition not only educates current generations but also imparts a crucial history lesson for future generations to carry on the legacy and resilience of the people who came before us.

The exhibition will be on view in the South Asia Institute's Third Floor Gallery from June 20 through July 27. Admission to the Third Floor Gallery is included with a ticket to the current exhibition.

About the curator

Ankit Khadgi is a Nepali-born, Chicago-based queer writer and journalist. Recipient of this year's Top 30, Under 30 LGBTQ+ Award from Windy City Times, Ankit recently received his MA in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ankit is the Communications Coordinator at South Asia Institute.