Decode the queer dictionary

A weekly podcast seeks to normalise conversations around the LGBTQiA+ experience in India

Co-Host of the podcast GayBCD, Sunetro Lahiri believes that issues faced by queer communities are not very different from the ones face by cishet (cisgender and heterosexual) groups. Two years ago, Lahiri along with his co-host Farhad Karkaria, began the weekly series to tackle these issues, and 78 episodes later, this show serves as a repository of unfiltered and forthright conversations surrounding topics like coming out, queer relationships and homophobia.

Suresh Ramdas, one of the guests on the show (right) Sunetro Lahiri

“There are a few examples of queer representation here and there, but nobody’s talking about deep-seated experiences. We wanted to build a universe where these conversations could be had in an unfiltered way,” says Lahiri.

Each one-hour episode breaks down a queer-related topic or experience in detail. Some episodes are light-hearted, and often, the hosts bring their own stories and memories to the table, which in many cases leads to moments of personal epiphanies. In some cases, the duo is also not afraid to contest their opposing views. For example, in episode 73, the two go head-to-head with their takes on the popular reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race and what it means to the queer community, while also highlighting challenges the show imposes. While the episodes are funny and informational, we wish they were of a shorter duration, especially if you’d like to catch this on a busy, long work day.

So far, the show has garnered positive attention from many parts of the country. “An aspect that makes all the effort worth it is the messages we get from listeners. I sometimes get messages from kids in interior regions in places like Chhattisgarh, who say that they hear and understand us and don’t feel the need to conform,” reveals Lahiri.

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