Humsafar Trust

Humsafar Trust is a Mumbai-based Indian non-governmental organisation working to advance the rights, health, safety and social inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexual-minority communities. Established in April 1994 by journalist and LGBTQ activist Ashok Row Kavi, media professional Suhail Abbasi and filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan, it emerged during a period when stigma, criminalisation and social prejudice made it difficult for men who have sex with men and transgender people to obtain appropriate health services. Its initial work concentrated on HIV/AIDS outreach and advocacy for gay men, but the organisation subsequently broadened its remit to serve a wider range of LGBTQI+ communities. The organisation combines community mobilisation, peer support, counselling, HIV prevention, testing and treatment referrals, crisis assistance, advocacy, media engagement and public education. Its work has included confidential counselling and testing, hospital referrals, support for people living with HIV, and assistance connecting community members with mental-health and other professional services. Humsafar Trust has also promoted access to antiretroviral therapy and helped establish an integrated, community-based HIV treatment centre in Mumbai with public-health partners. The model was intended to bring counselling, clinical assessment, testing and treatment access closer to affected communities while reducing barriers associated with conventional hospital settings. Humsafar Trust has developed and supported community groups serving different constituencies. Umang is a support group associated with lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, while Yaariyan engages LGBTQI+ youth through peer activities, outreach and advocacy, including public flash-mob initiatives in Mumbai. Sanjeevani, established in 2003 and formally registered as a community-based organisation in 2010, supports men who have sex with men and transgender people living with HIV. The organisation has also created Humsafar Connect, described as a national online resource centre intended to connect LGBTQI+ communities and services. At the national level, Humsafar Trust is a convenor member of the Integrated Network for Sexual Minorities, or INFOSEM. The network brings together community-based organisations representing lesbian, gay, kothi, bisexual, transgender and other sexual-minority communities across India. Through this role, Humsafar participates in coordination, capacity-building and rights advocacy beyond Mumbai. It has also opened a Delhi office and drop-in centre to extend counselling, crisis-management, community-mobilisation and policy-engagement work in the National Capital Region. Cultural production and communications are important parts of Humsafar Trust's advocacy model. The organisation produced or supported films and documentaries addressing HIV, transgender and gay experiences, including Bridges of Hope, Yehi Hai...Right Way and the feature film 68 Pages. It co-produced I AM Omar with Anti Clock Films and filmmaker Onir, helped support LGBTQ film programming such as the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, and backed performances of Chetan Datar's play Ek Madhavbaug. Its communications initiatives have included SANCHAR, a language and reporting guide for Indian print and electronic media, Mission Azaadi, a rights-advocacy reference document, and LIKHO, an initiative intended to encourage LGBTQI+ journalists and media professionals. The organisation has collaborated with civil-society groups, public-health agencies, diplomatic missions, technology companies and communications firms. Its partnership with Tinder contributed to the dating platform's introduction of 23 gender options in India, while the Emerging Queer Leaders summit and the #PeopleNotLabels campaign sought to strengthen leadership and improve public understanding of transgender and LGBTQI+ lives. Humsafar Trust remains an active Indian LGBTQI+ institution whose work spans direct services, community support, public-health delivery, cultural advocacy and legal or policy change.

Humsafar Trust was founded in April 1994 in Mumbai by Ashok Row Kavi, Suhail Abbasi and Sridhar Rangayan. The organisation was created to reach LGBTQ communities in Mumbai and nearby areas at a time when social prejudice and limited institutional understanding left many men who have sex with men and transgender people without safe, appropriate access to health services. HIV/AIDS advocacy and prevention were early priorities. Humsafar subsequently developed a broader service model involving peer outreach, counselling, confidential HIV testing, medical referrals, health education and support for people facing discrimination or violence. As its community presence grew, the organisation moved beyond individual services into collective organising and rights advocacy. It established or nurtured groups such as Umang for lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, Yaariyan for LGBTQI+ youth, and Sanjeevani for men who have sex with men and transgender people living with HIV. Sanjeevani began in March 2003 and was registered as a community-based organisation in March 2010. These groups provided spaces for peer support, community discussion, mobilisation and advocacy. Humsafar also created Humsafar Connect as an online resource initiative intended to link LGBTQI+ people and organisations across India and internationally. Public-health delivery remained central to the organisation's work. Humsafar Trust helped establish an integrated community-based HIV treatment centre in Mumbai with support from the Mumbai District State AIDS Control Society and FHI 360. The centre was designed to combine diagnosis, testing, counselling, assessment and access to antiretroviral therapy in a setting more accessible to affected communities. This differentiated-care approach sought to reduce the practical and social barriers that could discourage MSM and transgender patients from relying on mainstream hospitals. Humsafar became involved in national coordination through the Integrated Network for Sexual Minorities, or INFOSEM, serving as a convenor member. INFOSEM links community-based organisations representing a range of sexual-minority and transgender communities. This network role broadened Humsafar's policy, training and advocacy reach beyond Mumbai. The organisation later established a Delhi office and drop-in centre, with the stated aim of offering counselling, crisis management, community mobilisation and connections to mental-health professionals while engaging with lawmakers and the Union government on issues affecting sexual minorities. Cultural and media work has been another major strand of Humsafar's history. It produced Bridges of Hope, a 2004 documentary addressing the experiences and concerns of MSM and transgender communities, and Yehi Hai...Right Way, a safer-sex and condom-demonstration film. In 2007 it produced the feature film 68 Pages, which portrayed the work of a counsellor serving marginalised communities. Humsafar later co-produced I AM Omar with Anti Clock Films and filmmaker Onir, addressing harassment faced by gay people. The organisation supported queer cinema through work connected with the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival and supported performances of Ek Madhavbaug, a play about a son's coming out to his mother. The organisation has also worked to influence how LGBTQ issues are represented in public discourse. Its SANCHAR initiative developed recommended language for print and electronic media reporting, while Mission Azaadi provided reference material for LGBTQH rights advocacy. LIKHO was designed to encourage emerging LGBTQI+ journalists and media professionals. Project Bolo, an Indian LGBTQ oral-history initiative funded by the United Nations Development Programme, documented community voices and experiences. These efforts complemented Humsafar's direct services by addressing stigma, misinformation and historical invisibility. In the 2010s and later, Humsafar collaborated with technology, communications and international partners. Its work with Tinder contributed to the dating platform's introduction of 23 gender options for users. In 2018, Humsafar and the Canadian consulate hosted the Emerging Queer Leaders summit in Mumbai. A partnership involving Publicis.Sapient produced the short film #PeopleNotLabels to build awareness of transgender people and challenge reductive labelling. Humsafar Trust continues to operate as a community-led Indian LGBTQI+ organisation combining health services, peer support, advocacy, media engagement, cultural production and national networking.

• 2018

  Emerging Queer Leaders summit

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  Humsafar Trust and the Canadian consulate hosted a summit for emerging queer leaders in Mumbai.

• 2010

  Support for queer film and theatre initiatives

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  Humsafar supported the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival and Hindi performances of Ek Madhavbaug.

• 2007

  68 Pages released

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  Humsafar Trust produced a feature film portraying a counsellor's work with marginalised communities.

• 2004

  Bridges of Hope produced

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  The organisation produced a documentary recording voices and concerns from MSM and transgender communities.

• 2003

  Sanjeevani support group formed

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  Humsafar Trust established a support group for MSM and transgender people living with HIV.

• 1994

  Humsafar Trust established

  [1]Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org

  Ashok Row Kavi, Suhail Abbasi and Sridhar Rangayan founded the organisation in Mumbai to provide outreach and support to LGBTQ communities, initially with a strong HIV/AIDS focus.

A community-led Indian LGBTQI+ rights and public-health organisation combining direct services, HIV care, peer support, advocacy, cultural work and national community networking.

• Community services · 1994

  Community counselling and support

  Humsafar Trust provides confidential counselling, peer support, crisis assistance, community outreach and referrals for LGBTQI+ people. Its service model addresses health concerns, discrimination, violence, family or social pressures and access to mental-health or medical professionals.

• Public health services · 1994

  HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services

  The organisation offers HIV education, outreach, counselling, testing access, hospital referrals and support for antiretroviral treatment. Its community-based clinic model is designed to make diagnosis, assessment, counselling and ART access more approachable for MSM and transgender communities.

• Peer-support group · 2003

  Sanjeevani

  Sanjeevani is a Humsafar-nurtured support group for MSM and transgender people living with HIV. It provides community connection, mutual support and engagement around health and rights issues.

• Community groups

  Umang and Yaariyan

  Umang supports lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, while Yaariyan focuses on LGBTQI+ youth. Their activities include peer engagement, community-building, advocacy and public initiatives such as LGBTQ flash mobs.

• Online resource centre

  Humsafar Connect

  Humsafar Connect is a national online resource initiative intended to connect LGBTQI+ communities, organisations and relevant information resources in India and beyond.

• 2018Emerging Queer Leaders Summit

  India

  A leadership summit hosted in Mumbai by Humsafar Trust in collaboration with the Canadian consulate.

  Outcome. Provided a platform for emerging queer leaders and community advocates.

  Source
• 200768 Pages

  India

  A feature film centred on a counsellor working with marginalised communities, produced by Humsafar Trust.

  Outcome. Used popular cinema to bring LGBTQ and HIV-related social issues to a broader audience.

  Source
• 2004Bridges of Hope

  India

  A documentary project presenting the experiences and concerns of MSM and transgender communities.

  Outcome. Expanded Humsafar Trust's use of documentary storytelling for community visibility and advocacy.

  Source
• Project Bolo

  India

  An Indian LGBTQ oral-history project organised with Humsafar Trust as primary organiser and funded by the United Nations Development Programme.

  Outcome. Created a record of community voices, memories and concerns.

  Source
• SANCHAR

  India

  A recommended-language manual intended to improve print and electronic media reporting on LGBTQ issues.

  Outcome. Provided journalists and editors with guidance for more accurate and respectful coverage.

  Source
• LIKHO

  India

  An initiative designed to nurture aspiring LGBTQI+ journalists and media professionals.

  Outcome. Strengthened community participation in journalism and public storytelling.

  Source
• Tinder gender-inclusion partnership

  India

  Humsafar Trust collaborated with Tinder on improving gender and sexual inclusivity on the dating platform.

  Outcome. Tinder added 23 gender options for users.

  Source
• #PeopleNotLabels

  India

  A short-film awareness campaign produced by Publicis.Sapient in partnership with Humsafar Trust to promote understanding of transgender people.

  Outcome. Used short-form video to challenge stereotypes and promote recognition of transgender people as individuals rather than labels.

  Source

• Launch of an integrated community-based HIV treatment centreProduct launch

  Background

  LGBTQI+ communities, particularly MSM and transgender people, faced barriers in accessing HIV diagnosis, counselling and treatment through conventional healthcare settings.

  Action taken

  Humsafar Trust established a community-based centre in Mumbai with support from the Mumbai District State AIDS Control Society and FHI 360, bringing testing, counselling, assessment and antiretroviral treatment access together.

  Aftermath

  The centre served as a differentiated-care model intended to improve treatment access and reduce pressure on government hospitals.

  Source

• Expansion from HIV advocacy to broad LGBTQI+ servicesStrategy

  Background

  The organisation's original focus on HIV/AIDS services for gay men did not cover the full range of needs across LGBTQI+ communities.

  Action taken

  Humsafar expanded into counselling, confidential testing, healthcare referrals, peer support, community mobilisation, media advocacy and rights work for a broader LGBTQI+ constituency.

  Aftermath

  The organisation developed into a multi-service community and advocacy institution operating in Mumbai and through national networks.

  Source

1. 1Humsafar Trusten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Humsafar Trust official websitehumsafar.org