Shakti

In June 1988 LGBTQIA+ activist Shivananda Khan and artist Poulomi Desai founded Shakti, the UK’s first LGBTQIA+ campaign group for South Asians in Britain. Shakti described itself as a South Asian lesbian, gay and bisexual network. At the time of its founding, Shakti was the first organization of its kind in Europe. The organization aimed to support LGBTQIA+ South Asians in Britain whose needs were not represented by other organizations, by recognizing the specific challenges of those who were marginalized along the lines of gender, sexuality, race, religion and caste. In doing so, Shakti aimed to create a range of supportive spaces for its users to navigate their multiple marginalities whilst also striving to secure stronger legislative rights for LGBTQIA+ people in Britain.

Whilst most of the network’s members were based in the UK, Shakti also had an international reach with members from India, North America and across Europe. The organization operated local branches in places such as Leicester, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester. By 1991 Shakti had 900 members. Shakti created opportunities for members to develop new networks of support and access counselling. Its services included regular social meetings every fortnight in London, as well as a monthly bhangra disco, a housing advisory service, a monthly women-only session, HIV/AIDS support and arts programmes. In addition, Shakti published a bi-monthly newsletter titled Shakti Khabar. Shakti Khabar was amongst the first newsletters for LGBTQIA+ South Asians and became a critical way in which the organization promoted activist campaigns, workshops, pride walks, poetry and art. Shakti was sustained by volunteers.

Its events often took place at London Friend on Caledonian Road in Ilford. London Friend, which was established in 1972, allowed Shakti to use its space for free. DJ Ritu attended the first gathering Shakti held there, which was the first time she was in a room with other South Asian LGBTQIA+ people. She eventually joined the management committee and, in 1988, founded Shakti Disco, which was held at the London Lesbian and Gay Centre.

In 1991 Shakti produced an extensive research report on the needs of South Asian LGBTQIA+ people in Britain. This research was funded by the Borough of Camden and was supported by the Camden Lesbian and Gay Unit as well as writer Pratibha Parmar. The study involved questionnaires with fifty of Shakti’s members, whose testimonies highlighted the crucial role Shakti played in allowing LGBTQIA+ South Asians to access safe and supportive spaces amidst deep-seated homophobia and the threat of rejection from family and friends. The report also noted the challenges of promoting Shakti, given the high cost of leaflets and the reluctance of South Asian radio and television to advertise Shakti’s services. Instead, Shakti often advertised in publications such as the Pink Paper, and had strong links with organizations such as the Black Lesbian and Gay Centre.

Owing to a lack of new volunteers, Shakti was forced to close operations in 1999.