Harish Iyer, a survivor of childhood sexual assault, is an LGBTQ activist involved in promoting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, children, women, animals, and survivors of child sexual abuse. Harish shares his thoughts about the LGBTQ community, the challenges faced and the upcoming pride march. (Pictures/Facebook Harish Iyer)
Updated On: 2019-01-31 04:01 PM IST
Harish Iyer is actively involved in promoting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, children, women, animals, and survivors of child sexual abuse.
In picture: Harish Iyer looks vibrant and stunning as he speaks for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
Harish Iyer is also one of the organisers of the revolutionary Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride and proudly co-hosts it.
Harish Iyer is a survivor of sexual and physical abuse and still continues to fight for these issues strongly. He is also India's first voice to fight against child abuse. He describes his experience as a turning point that made him stronger.
Harish was sexually abused by his uncle as a child when he was only 7 years old and also gang raped by his uncle's friends later. But not only did he survive the child abuse but also stands strong as an activist for child abuse in India.
Pic courtesy/Judhajit Bagchi and Ranadeep Bhattacharya
Harish Iyer has always raised his voice against child abuse, LGBTQ rights especially Section 377. He is one of India's strong voices who fought against Section 377.
In his interview, Harish standing firmly for the community, said, "LGBTQ people are just as normal and abnormal like everyone else. We are equal beings and don’t need special rights, we need equal rights."
Harish in his bold costume leading the LGBTQ Pride march. He believes there needs to be a law that penalises people for discriminating the LGBTQ people, regulations need to be brought in on people who discriminate on screen or play a homophobic character.
Harish is one of the faces of the LGBTQ community and quotes, "We are equals beings and we are not going to settle for anything lesser than equality. We will have equal rights because we breathe the same air, we contribute the same amount of taxes yet we don’t get privileges so we require our rights also equally."
Harish believes Indian culture stands for diversity and the most un-Indian thing to do, the most hateful thing to do would be, to not accept people who are different from you.
Harish Iyer enjoying family time with his mother and beloved pet cat. He is also a hardcore animal lover. His upcoming book, 'Son rise' which is scheduled to be released this year has a heartwarming description of his pet cat, also Harish has a tattoo of his four-legged friend on his wrist.
Harish Iyer's book will reflect all his struggles and dark days but still portray him as a hero because he survived and rose as an example to others.
Harish smiles posing as a Maharashtrian groom and yes he's still single and fabulous. His mother had posted an advertisement in Mid-day for his marriage looking for a handsome groom. It went viral as nobody had ever seen a homosexual matrimonial ad before.
Harish Iyer doesn't shy away from trying something different and unique, even if it means being a Unicorn.
Harish Iyer in his Drag Queen avatar posing gorgeously for the LGBTQ Pride 2016. He also stands up for women rights and holds them in high regard. When his mother forced him to marry a woman, he said," I will get married, but get me married to a woman only if you had a daughter and you would get your daughter married off to a gay man."
Harish dolled up for the LGBT Pride, looking like a colourful bunny from the Rainbow land.
In this picture: Harish Iyer poses with a famed activist Sonal Giani wearing the rainbow colours with pride.
Harish Iyer's another creative avatar for the LGBTQ Pride 2015. He proudly states, "I am gay and fabulous."
This man can do both, he can be a stunning man and a gorgeous woman at the same time. He never shied away from trying new things or expressing himself in unique controversial ways.
Harish Iyer is very fond of trying different hair colours and styles to express his vibrant personality.
In pic: Harish gets creative with his swimming pool towel flaunting his green hair. He is known to be a colourful personality in and out.
In pic: Harish Iyer with his mother smiling proudly for the LGBTQ Pride 2018 in Mumbai. He is known for his bold and creative fashion sense and he is not shy to flaunt the rainbow colours in public.
Harish Iyer is known to get creative with his clothes, hair and even pictures. He captions this picture as 'Hope'
In pic: Harish Iyer posing proudly with a transgender
In pic: Harish Iyer slaying his Drag Queen avatar for the LGBTQ Pride 2016. He is a strong representative of Women Rights in India.
In pic: Harish Iyer posing in his Desi Drag Queen avatar for the LGBTQ Pride 2017
In pic: Harish captured in a filmy pose at Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2018
In pic: Harish Iyer supporting "Sisak'
In pic:Harish Iyer chilling after the LGBTQ Pride 2012 march in Mumbai flaunting the rainbow colours.
In pic:Harish Iyer looking nothing less than a graceful peacock in a rainbow coloured ghagra and abstract make up highlighting the moustache which represents both masculinity and feminity in one frame.
A glimpse of Harish Iyer's intimate photo shoot by Aldo
In pic: Harish looks stunning in his kurta and beautifully embroidered turban for Gay Bombay's Annual Talent Show - 2016.