The latest edition of the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer and Inclusive took place in the capital on December 7th and 8th. It included over 27 hours of programming, featuring more than 80 speakers and performers who came from different parts of India and the world – from Imphal, Manipur to Vancouver, Canada. Held yet again at Gulmohar Park Club, the festival had a footfall of over 750 people each day.
Sessions featured speakers like Hansal Mehta, Paromita Vohra, Minakshi Sanyal, David Ledain, Sandhya Mridul, Snigdha Kapoor, Rohan Arora. Nitin Mantri and Sharif Rangenekar among others. The invigorating conversations with panelists Saurabh Kirpal, Sandhya Mridul, Bonita Rajpurohit, Faraz Ansari and Yogi & Kabeer brought in their diverse and unique perspectives. Speaking at the Festival, David Ledain, Author, Gay Dad & Podcaster said “Parenting is about loving your child no matter what they are, what path they want to take in life, who they love or what their sexuality is. Your child is a continuation of yourself, so you have to love yourself and you have to love your child”. The festival concluded on an insightful and entertaining note, complete with movie screenings, stand ups, dance, music, and a drag performance that brought the evenings alive.
Justice S Murlidhar, Senior Advocate, FMR Chief Justice, Orissa High Court and Anjali Gopalan, Animal and Human Rights Activist, Founder, Naz Foundation in conversation with Eric Chopra said, “ The Naz judgment redefined India’s commitment to constitutional morality, equality, and dignity. It challenged majoritarian views and opened dialogue on health, rights, and justice. While few books document Section 377’s history from 1861 to its 2018 reading down, the judgment went beyond law—it empowered individuals, united families, and brought communities together. This laid the foundation for future movements, affirming that inclusiveness and justice are central to our Constitution and shared humanity.”
ABOUT RAINBOW LIT FEST
The Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive and The Rainbow Awards for Literature & Journalism are owned and run by the Dwijen Dinanath Arts Foundation, a Section 8, not for-profit entity. Supported by donations and funds invested by its founder, Sharif D Rangnekar, the Foundation functions in the area of facilitating and curating platforms related to gender, sexuality, arts, and the independent music space. It leverages history and literature as well as current affairs and the multitude of thoughts and views in all it attempts to do. For more information, please visit rainbowliteraturefestival.com
