The SALGA-NYC Steering Committee

SALGA NYC Steering Committee Coordinators: Rohan Sooklall and Rekha

Rohan has been involved with SALGA for many years. He is especially interested in creating a vibrant space for SALGA youth, and expanding the SALGA mandate to include support discussions, seminars and workshops on wider non-traditional SALGA issues in the community; substance abuse, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, among others.

Rekha has been a member of the steering committee since September, 2008.  As co-coordinator of the steering committee she is responsible for making sure SALGA runs smoothly. She aims to increase the participation and visibility of SALGA NYC in the LGBT and the larger South Asian community with the help of the rest of the steering committee and the greater SALGA NYC community.

She is an active member and organizer of SALGA NYC events including Pride. She has also facilitated the support group.

Aneesa, Director of Support, focusing on women’s, trans and gender non-conforming people’s inclusion

Aneesa has been a SALGA Steering member since September, 2008.  Zir is a Director of Support and also manages SALGA finances.  Zir was instrumental in the development of SALGA’s new telephone hotline. Zir oversees the hotline’s weekly operations.

Aneesa is particularly interested in reaching those people in the community who have traditionally been underserved. Zir hopes to help SALGA become as inclusive as possible so that all people feel welcome. Zir works with Deen to further this common vision.

Deen, Director of Support, focusing on trans inclusion

Deen has been a member of SALGA for almost ten years. As a steering member, he is enthusiastic about bringing a greater awareness of our South Asian trans community - both reaching out to those members who feel that the gender they were assigned at birth does not adequately describe them, as well as reaching out to non-transgender members of the community and facilitating discussion and understanding so that our entire SALGA community can become a more welcoming environment. “As South Asians, we encompass a wealth of diversity, from our national heritages, the languages we speak, the spiritualities we believe in, the socioeconomic classes we span, to the sexualities and genders we live — we have a lot offer one another.” He is currently one of the Support Coordinators.

Jimmy, Director of Communications

Jimmy has been a volunteer with SALGA for about a year and Steering member since March, 2010. Jimmy publicizes SALGA and SALGA’s many events. In addition, he manages the website and the SALGA listserve. Jimmy also works with other steering committee members on projects such as film screenings, Pride and potlucks.

Jimmy is a freelance Buildings Expediter and Buildings Code Consultant. Jimmy graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s in mathematics.

Lakshman, Director of SALGA Youth Group and Political Outreach

Lakshman has been a SALGA Steering member since September, 2008 and takes a key role in managing the Youth Group, working for political outreach and support.  Lakshman also helps with Communications.  In 2009, Lakshman was instrumental in making SALGA’s participation in the Manhattan Pride parade the most successful in our history.

The Support, Outreach and Youth committee is here to provide support and information to the South Asian queer community. The monthly support group meetings will continue to be held on the second Saturday of each month from 2p.m until 4p.m. at the LGBTQ Center in Manhattan. There is also a support group meeting specifically for those in the 13-24 age range.

Priyanka, Director of Political Outreach

Priyanka Mitra has been a political activist for several years now. She has worked for Marriage Equality in New York and on other queer rights & anti-war campaigns. Along with Lakshman, Priyanka was instrumental in helping SALGA have our best ever presence at the Manhattan Pride Parade in 2009.  She hopes to take SALGA in a more activist direction and encourage the community to participate in their own political futures. Priyanka hopes to make SALGA accessible to marginalized commmunites, especially to LGBT South Asians who are HIV + or living with AIDS.

Shawn, Director of Communications

Shawn has been on the steering committee since March 2010 as Communications Chair.  He is excited to work on ensuring the queer desi community feels empowered and excited to participate in SALGA’s activities, events, and advocacy.

Shawn currently works on HIV prevention-related issues at a public relations firm specializing in public health. Previously, he interned in the press offices of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Originally from California, Shawn holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley, where he was active in the queer community and served as an elected official in student government.

Shree, Director of Volunteer Management

Shree is a SALGA participant since 2000. She served on SALGA Steering from 2001-2003 as a Support coordinator and then went on to manage SALGA Communications. Shree’s current role is to help SALGA grow by bringing in new volunteers from the community and to on-board them in ways that are fulfilling for volunteers and ensure future successes for SALGA.