The Massachusetts Area South Asian
Lambda Association (MASALA) is a
Boston-based organization for "
Gay,
Lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate n ...
, Bi, Trans, and Questioning" people of South Asian ethnicity. It was founded in 1994 and is the only organization designed specifically for all queer South Asians in New England. For the purposes of MASALA, "South Asian" is defined as being from "
Afghanistan,
Bangladesh,
India,
Maldives,
Nepal,
Pakistan,
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
, and
Tibet; and from the global South Asian
Diaspora
A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...
".
It is a frequent sponsor of film screenings, lectures and other cultural events. It also hosts an annual party in the fall. "Our aim is to increase the awareness of our presence in the social spaces that we inhabit and welcome alliances with like-minded individuals and groups regardless of their ethnic/cultural/sexual identities." MASALA has connections with many of the colleges and universities in New England. The group also holds monthly potlucks at various locations throughout Boston.
See also
*
List of LGBT organizations
References
External links
Interview with Dr. Aida KhanMyspace profileInterview with Film maker Sarav Chidambaram
Asian-American culture in Massachusetts
LGBT culture in Boston
LGBT in Massachusetts
LGBT organizations in the United States
LGBT and multiculturalism
Organizations based in Boston
South Asian American organizations
LGBT Asian-American culture
Organizations established in 1994
1994 establishments in Massachusetts
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