Srinagar: A new report on the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Kashmir has highlighted the intense social pressure, surveillance and discrimination many face within families, educational institutions, religious spaces and wider society. The study says queer people often have to balance the desire to live openly with fears that visibility could lead to stigma, violence, isolation or increased monitoring.
The report, “Yes, We Exist,” was prepared by Sonzal Welfare Trust with research support from the Marivala Health Initiative. It is based on eight months of fieldwork and interviews with 60 participants, including 44 LGBTQIA+ community members. Researchers examined experiences involving families, education, healthcare, law enforcement and broader social and political structures.
Families become a major source of pressure
According to the report, discrimination within families was among the most significant forms of marginalisation experienced by queer Kashmiris. In closely connected family structures, concerns about social reputation can make sexual orientation and gender identity particularly difficult subjects.
Participants described experiences ranging from silence and emotional pressure to surveillance, coercion and, in some cases, violence. Some said relatives monitored their phones and social-media accounts, questioned their friendships and kept a close watch on their movements, clothing and gender expression.
One 22-year-old participant from Srinagar recalled that his brother discovered messages on his phone and responded by telling him that his identity was not consistent with “who we are” or “our culture.” Such reactions, the report suggests, can turn everyday communication and personal relationships into sources of anxiety.
Marriage was another recurring form of pressure. Some participants said relatives presented marriage to a member of the opposite sex as a way to make their identity “normal.” Others reported being pushed toward marriage proposals or counselling intended to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The consequences could extend to education and financial independence. One lesbian participant said her father stopped paying her college fees after she rejected marriage proposals, placing her education and economic security at greater risk.
Silence can also become a form of control
The report says discrimination does not always involve direct confrontation. Family members may respond by refusing to discuss a person's identity, withdrawing emotionally or creating an atmosphere in which the individual feels ashamed or guilty.
Researchers described this silence as another way of communicating stigma. Fear of disappointing relatives and concerns about bringing shame to the family can leave queer people feeling isolated even when there is no open conflict.
At the same time, the study found indications that attitudes may be changing in some families. One participant said her mother initially remained silent but eventually began asking questions and stopped describing her identity as a disease.
Schools and colleges add another layer of discrimination
Educational institutions were also identified as difficult environments. Participants reported verbal harassment, social exclusion and physical intimidation.
One participant described being mocked by classmates because of the way he walked and talked before the harassment escalated into physical bullying. The report also found that teachers sometimes failed to intervene, while in other cases conventional expectations about gender and sexuality were reinforced by authority figures.
Researchers argue that greater awareness in schools and colleges could help challenge the cycle in which prejudice is normalised and passed from one generation to another.
Religious spaces remain difficult for some transgender people
The report also examined experiences in religious spaces. It documented cases in which transgender Kashmiris said they did not feel welcome in mosques or were prevented from praying because of their gender identity.
These experiences highlight the intersection between gender identity, religion and community life in Kashmir, where religious and social institutions remain important parts of everyday life.
Visibility brings both opportunities and risks
Dr Aijaz Ahmad Bund, a researcher and activist who led the study, said LGBTQIA+ issues had become more visible in Kashmir compared with the early years of his advocacy work in the 2010s.
Greater public discussion has helped bring a previously stigmatised subject into the conversation. However, the report suggests that visibility does not automatically translate into acceptance. For some people, being visible can instead result in greater surveillance, stigma or even violence.
This creates a difficult choice: queer Kashmiris may want to challenge the idea that LGBTQIA+ people do not exist in the region, while simultaneously fearing the consequences of being identified.
Kashmir’s wider environment adds further complications
The report places these experiences against the backdrop of Kashmir’s prolonged conflict and heavily securitised environment. It argues that checkpoints, identity checks, communication restrictions and surveillance can make movement and association more difficult for LGBTQIA+ people who may already be forced to keep their gatherings discreet because of social stigma.
For people attempting to build friendships or community networks privately, these wider circumstances can make ordinary social interactions more complicated.
Sonzal Welfare Trust, which was established in 2017 as the region’s first openly functioning LGBTQIA+ organisation, has sought to provide mental-health services, safe spaces, community support and digital storytelling. The organisation has also attempted to create ways for LGBTQIA+ people to share their experiences without necessarily revealing their identities publicly.
Online spaces can also expose people to abuse
Digital platforms have become important tools for LGBTQIA+ communities seeking connection and visibility, but the report notes that they also carry risks.
Sonzal's Facebook account was hacked, while the organisation eventually discontinued its Twitter account following sustained hate and abuse. Bund said Instagram offered greater control over content and audience moderation, particularly among younger users, but cautioned against viewing public visibility as an uncomplicated solution.
The experience underscores the dilemma facing queer people in Kashmir: digital platforms can create community and visibility, but they can also expose individuals and organisations to harassment and unwanted attention.
A cautious path toward greater acceptance
Despite the challenges documented in the study, researchers also found signs of gradual social change. Families are increasingly approaching activists for guidance, and some relatives have begun seeking ways to support their children rather than simply rejecting them.
Yet the report makes clear that progress remains uneven. For many LGBTQIA+ people, acceptance can still depend on remaining discreet about their identity, relationships and social networks.
Bund has therefore expressed caution about encouraging people to come out publicly where doing so could expose them to serious consequences. The uncertainty surrounding the formal release of the report itself reflects the same tension experienced by the community.
The central message emerging from the study is that LGBTQIA+ people in Kashmir are seeking not simply visibility, but the ability to live with dignity and security. While public discussion has expanded, the experiences documented in the report show that acceptance remains a work in progress, with family expectations, social stigma, surveillance and fear continuing to shape the lives of many queer Kashmiris.
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