Who Will Keep Us Safe?
Last night in a horrific incident, a 42 year old man went on a shooting spree at a local #LGBT+ club (London Pub) in Oslo, Norway. This left two people dead and 21 injured. My heart goes out to the victims and families of this mindless evil act. The Pride march...
The Tragic Cost Of Bullying Our Gay Youth
Shame On Us. Shame On Us. Shame On Us. Sounds harsh? Wait, until you hear the statistics. The society we have collectively created, not just in India, the world over, is slowly and systematically making it difficult for our young gay people to be themselves. This...
Did Axis Bank India fail the #LGBT community? #DilSeOpen they said, but Dil Tod Diya!
#DilSeOpen #ComeAsYouAre the promo said! (Dil Se Open - Open with your heart) I was elated for our #LGBTQ+ community. But, yeh dil hai kay manta nahi, said my heart (my heart doubts). Wait karo. Wait karo, it said. I wanted to write about it and celebrate it at that...
Imagine Celebrating A Hospital Visit #NHSLondon
Hospital visits are something that have become a part of our life now - and that will remain. I feel a lot of anxiety visiting hospitals to be honest, depending upon the reason for the visit in the first place. I find hospitals intimidating! However, I am also...
I declare July 1st as a holiday for all LGBT Voices. Do you know why?
Yaar, I am EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!! Why? Because, I am in 'fashion' these days yaar. After all, I am from the #LGBT community na. Every one wants to know me in June! June is celebrated around the world as #PrideMonth. I love it! I celebrate it as well. When my friends call...
Are you sure, you are a lesbian? I get asked!!
"But, you don't look like a lesbian? Are you sure you are a lesbian?" I was asked by a very alpha male friend. I looked at him, and with a straight face (yeah, the only thing straight about me) asked, 'So, what do lesbians look like'? He responded, 'array, you know....
You have kids? But I thought you were a lesbian?…..
Oh dear dear. I get asked this all the time! In the past, I would ignore such comments. At times, I would even sit and draw diagrams and tell people how biology works! Later, I would send them links.....but, hey, why do we even have this question? The other day, I had...
How To Spot A Fake Ally
Let me start with a story ... My partner and I were invited to a party couple of years ago, in India. The party had people from the events industry, mostly. It was one of those parties where booze and food was flowing. Our 'coming out' story had been recently shared...
I Feel Deep Despair (Trigger Warning)…
I wake up most mornings to a few dozen messages on my various social handles. Some of them are simply congratulating me on my Tedx Talk enquiries to engage me for talks or to put forward my views/opinion pieces and some are deeply personal messages, often painful to...
I Come Out Every Day!
When did you come out?,is a question often put forward to me!! Frankly, for us in the #LGB community, we have to 'come out' every day. Some times, every moment. Did this make you wonder? Think about it! When I lived a 'straight' 'heterosexual' life, no one ever asked...
Raga Olga D’silva’s book is titled Untold Lies but it might well be called Told Truths. Her storyoems are truthful to the core. A voice that deserves to be heard…whether in prose or poetry.
The best thing in life is “love” and yet there is “fear” always attached to it. That is the irony of life. And love. In these beautiful poems and stories or should I say “storyoems”, Raga Olga D’Silva brings out the beauty of these two emotions in a poignant and evocative manner, in words simply told. Perhaps a first of its kind, this collection is heart-warming.”