Pune: The city’s queer community thrives in a paradox. There is a vibrant nightlife with drag shows and queer art, yet harassment and danger lurk on the streets, especially for trans people and queer women, exposing the city’s ongoing struggle to become truly inclusive.Stories Café, which recently shifted to Wagholi after unaffordable rent hikes in Koregaon Park, thrives on the rare kindness of its landlady who allows queer baristas to serve coffee and snacks there. “We are more than just a café. Our survival is challenging because it’s not just a business, it’s a safe space for the queer community to train, socialise and even host events. After losing US funding, our landlady showed kindness by reducing rent for three months to help us stay afloat,” Shyam Konnur, founder of MIST, the NGO that runs the cafe, told TOI. At a bigger level, Divya Aggarwal is leading the charge at hospitality chain SOCIAL, embedding inclusivity into everyday operations to create a welcoming experience for all. “For us, inclusivity goes beyond symbols. We have partnered with queer talent to create empowering experiences, hosting events like drag nights and panel discussions that showcase queer voices,” Aggarwal, the chief growth officer at Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, said.“We prioritise training our teams to use correct pronouns and recognise micro-aggressions,” she said. “Our goal is to create a safe space where queer patrons feel respected and valued. When they return with their friends and choose our space to express themselves, that’s the ultimate win. We listen closely to feedback, work with community voices and aim to reflect that inclusivity in who’s on our stage and who’s on our team,” Aggarwal added.According to The Pune Qrew co-founder Avichal Singh, the city has become more queer-friendly over the last five years, especially in areas like Koregaon Park and Kalyaninagar.Singh highlighted the organisation’s efforts to promote queer visibility, saying, “From highlighting queer-friendly messaging on promos to showcasing queer artists and vendors, everything we do is about creating safe, welcoming environments.”The success of these initiatives, according to Singh, is measured by the community’s response. “Events like Glam Jam at High Spirits play a crucial role in this endeavour, providing a platform for the queer community to come together and celebrate. For us, success is simple: the more queer folk and allies attend, the more we normalize and celebrate the community,” he added.Beyond cafes, Pune’s LGBTQIA+ community is creating its own spaces, like the Pune Queer Sports Club, which brings together over 180 members for sports like cricket and badminton every weekend. However, challenges persist in bars and nightclubs, where gay couples often face discriminatory “stag entry” policies, being turned away unless accompanied by women.An IT professional, who identifies as a gay man, shared his experiences with nightlife discrimination, saying, “At many nightclubs still, when I go with my boyfriend, we are denied entry. Other times, we have been asked to pay extra… People act weird if we hold hands, which is very normal for a hetero couple.”While upscale venues in Pune show progress, danger lurks on the streets. Recent two men brutally attacked a trans woman near Pune Station, leaving her with head injuries that required stitches.Sania Shah, a trans woman, recounted yet another harrowing experience: “I was waiting for a rickshaw when suddenly I noticed two men leering at me… They pulled my hair, hit me on the head and kept attacking me till some people rushed towards us to break this up.” The incident left her shaken, triggering severe anxiety and a constant need for reassurance from her mother when she’s out.Pune: The city’s queer community thrives in a paradox. There is a vibrant nightlife with drag shows and queer art, yet harassment and danger lurk on the streets, especially for trans people and queer women, exposing the city’s ongoing struggle to become truly inclusive.Stories Café, which recently shifted to Wagholi after unaffordable rent hikes in Koregaon Park, thrives on the rare kindness of its landlady who allows queer baristas to serve coffee and snacks there. “We are more than just a café. Our survival is challenging because it’s not just a business, it’s a safe space for the queer community to train, socialise and even host events. After losing US funding, our landlady showed kindness by reducing rent for three months to help us stay afloat,” Shyam Konnur, founder of MIST, the NGO that runs the cafe, told TOI. At a bigger level, Divya Aggarwal is leading the charge at hospitality chain SOCIAL, embedding inclusivity into everyday operations to create a welcoming experience for all. “For us, inclusivity goes beyond symbols. We have partnered with queer talent to create empowering experiences, hosting events like drag nights and panel discussions that showcase queer voices,” Aggarwal, the chief growth officer at Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, said.“We prioritise training our teams to use correct pronouns and recognise micro-aggressions,” she said. “Our goal is to create a safe space where queer patrons feel respected and valued. When they return with their friends and choose our space to express themselves, that’s the ultimate win. We listen closely to feedback, work with community voices and aim to reflect that inclusivity in who’s on our stage and who’s on our team,” Aggarwal added.According to The Pune Qrew co-founder Avichal Singh, the city has become more queer-friendly over the last five years, especially in areas like Koregaon Park and Kalyaninagar.Singh highlighted the organisation’s efforts to promote queer visibility, saying, “From highlighting queer-friendly messaging on promos to showcasing queer artists and vendors, everything we do is about creating safe, welcoming environments.”The success of these initiatives, according to Singh, is measured by the community’s response. “Events like Glam Jam at High Spirits play a crucial role in this endeavour, providing a platform for the queer community to come together and celebrate. For us, success is simple: the more queer folk and allies attend, the more we normalize and celebrate the community,” he added.Beyond cafes, Pune’s LGBTQIA+ community is creating its own spaces, like the Pune Queer Sports Club, which brings together over 180 members for sports like cricket and badminton every weekend. However, challenges persist in bars and nightclubs, where gay couples often face discriminatory “stag entry” policies, being turned away unless accompanied by women.An IT professional, who identifies as a gay man, shared his experiences with nightlife discrimination, saying, “At many nightclubs still, when I go with my boyfriend, we are denied entry. Other times, we have been asked to pay extra… People act weird if we hold hands, which is very normal for a hetero couple.”While upscale venues in Pune show progress, danger lurks on the streets. Recent two men brutally attacked a trans woman near Pune Station, leaving her with head injuries that required stitches.Sania Shah, a trans woman, recounted yet another harrowing experience: “I was waiting for a rickshaw when suddenly I noticed two men leering at me… They pulled my hair, hit me on the head and kept attacking me till some people rushed towards us to break this up.” The incident left her shaken, triggering severe anxiety and a constant need for reassurance from her mother when she’s out.
