The idea of Sikhism that I grew up with was a very accommodating and inclusive one. My parents were religious, but beyond taking me to Gurudwara, our place of assembly and worship, every Sunday as a child, and sometimes narrating stories about our religion or Gurus, they never tried to impose any strict religious code on me.
I grew up in a Sikh family in India, and while I was not particularly religious, I maintained my religious identity by having uncut hair and wearing a turban. I still remember how lonely and confused I felt after coming out (both to myself, and then to the world at large). But as LGBT* rights advance across the world, the status quo within the Sikh faith too is changing slowly, thanks to a young generation of queer Sikhs who are now vocal about their sexuality. It is also a faith where, for a long time, no large-scale discussions around the topic of homosexuality have taken place within the community (for good or bad). Founded in the 15th century, Sikhism as a religion is very tolerant and advocates equality however, the Punjabi culture in which I grew up and which, as a state, is the heart of India’s Sikh community, is often not so tolerant. The Sikh faith is one of the youngest faiths in the world. Read more here: You can also listen to Sukhdeep read his essay below. This blog is part of a series for the Salzburg Global LGBT* Forum’s program on LGBT* and Faith.
