Trikone Chicago Parade Fundraiser - 2023 Pride!

Trikone Chicago will be marching in the 2023 Chicago Pride Parade, celebrating our third consecutive year of "Pride and Pyaar" (pyaar = "love" in Hindi) on Sunday, June 25, 2023, representing our beautiful, diverse collection of individuals representing queer South Asians and their families, friends, allies, and communities. The South Asian diaspora is vast, multi-faceted, celebratory, complex and ever-represented in today's modern society. This year, a song from the Telugu blockbuster, "RRR", short for, "Rise Roar Revolt," called"Naatu Naatu" won an Oscar for best original song and beat Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga in the Golden Globes. It was the first time an Indian film was nominated for an Oscar. And hopefully, it won't be the last. Even as we march with joy, it is important to remember how far we have come as a society, and as a culture, concerning LGBTQIA+ rights and protections for South Asians around the world. In some cases, LGBTQIA+ lifestyles may be illegal and punishable by prison sentences, lashings, or the death penalty. The situation is particularly grim for transgender, gender non-conforming (GNC) and/or gender-neutral individuals in countries abroad. Here in Chicago, Trikone has enabled queer South Asians to find a safe, secure community where they can express their authentic selves against the backdrop of their cultural identities as children of the diaspora. We can sometimes find ourselves at challenging crossroads: receiving ostracization from our conservative families about our lifestyles, while simultaneously struggling to "find our place" in the LGBTQ community that is continuously under attack by the right-wing in America. This is why representation matters. This is why we choose to march, fight, engage, remember, honor, celebrate, and validate the critical visibility of the South Asian LGBTQIA+ community. Above, you will be able to see a video of our 2022 Pride March. We hope the video brings a smile to your face. And, we would greatly appreciate any contributions to our parade fundraising this year. The funds entirely go to Trikone and cover parade entry fees, a float, decorations, and water/snacks for the marchers. Thank you for supporting our cause, from the bottom of our hearts.