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Are there any scholarships or fellowships supporting LGBTQIA+ folks in higher education in India? We asked our community—and they responded.

We have put together a collation of some of these opportunities that offer funds, grants, and other financial resources to queer and trans people—especially from marginalised communities—pursuing higher education.

After all, higher education shouldn't be an uphill battle for queer and trans people in India. Until there are state policies and more systemic solutions, these opportunities can help make higher education more accessible.

Do you know of any other such grants and scholarships supporting LGBTQIA+ folks for higher education in India? Share them with us in the comments below.

And don't forget to send this important curation to your networks.

In 1990, activists in Latin America and the Caribbean launched September 28 as a regional day of action for safe abortion. It’s since grown into a global movement calling for safe, legal, accessible and stigma-free abortion care which has made real gains.

Argentina legalized abortion through 14 weeks, Colombia decriminalized it through 24. But opposition groups are rolling that progress back by defunding, delaying, and obstructing access. Nearly 40% of women worldwide live under restrictive laws, and as a result, unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of preventable maternal death.

The cost of abortion restrictions is why rollbacks and backlash haven’t stopped this movement. Every step forward was made possible by organizers, healthcare providers, and advocates sharing strategies across borders. This September 28, we honor that work, and everyone’s role in protecting it. What’s yours?

Julien Odoul is facing backlash after sharing an AI-altered image that digitally removed a Muslim woman’s hijab and calling it “French freedom.”

The post comes as National Rally politicians renew calls to ban the hijab in public spaces in France, with some proposing fines for Muslim women who continue to wear it.

On September 5, Odoul, a spokesperson for France’s far-right National Rally, posted the edited image on X with the caption “LIBERTÉ FRANÇAISE!” The AI-generated version showed the woman without her hijab and replaced her long clothing with a tank top and pants.

According to journalist Louis Pisano, the woman’s family said the original photograph was taken without her knowledge and that she wishes to remain anonymous. The outlet that originally published the image later removed it at the family’s request.

The Other Love Story (2016) is an Indian GL (Girls' Love) web series set in Bengaluru during the late 1990s, a time before smartphones and social media. It follows Aachal and Aadya, two college girls whose friendship slowly blossoms into a tender, heartfelt romance as they navigate their feelings in a society that doesn't easily accept same-sex relationships. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, the series focuses on quiet moments, handwritten letters, stolen glances, and the emotional journey of first love. It's widely praised for its realistic storytelling, natural chemistry between the leads, and sensitive portrayal of queer love. The series has 12 short episodes and is often recognized as one of India's first lesbian web series. 

“The idea of a low caste is also very hierarchical. Who gets to perform what kind of labour? That’s where I think ritual comes in. Labour in India is not just free wage labour. Your identity decides what sort of, what kind of work you do. Because when you feel like you’re doing something for God, it translates into their moral standing in society and caste hierarchy.” explained Sumit Samos, a researcher and anti-caste activist.

Every year, as lakhs of Ganesh idols wind their way towards the rivers for visarjan, the festival is retold as a story of anti-colonial defiance: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the story goes, took a private, domestic Ganesh Chaturthi and made it public in 1893 to unite Hindus against British rule. Yet what gets left out of this dominant tale is caste.

Kumhars are an artisanal OBC (Other Backward Class) caste, historically known for their clay and pottery craftsmanship. They are also known as Prajapati (lord of creatures), Kusavar (in parts of South India), and Kumbhakāra. These different names and regional identities make their position within the caste hierarchy complex.

Despite being an OBC caste themselves, Kumhars are more deeply integrated into the practice of Ganesh idol-making because of their historical ties to the craft and are respected for their work.

While many murtikhanas are now owned by Kumhars across the Delhi-NCR region, the karigars, or artisans, who work under them mostly belong to other oppressed castes.

To understand how caste shapes Ganesh murti-making, we visited a range of Ganesh manufacturers, making our way through small, makeshift workshops, often tucked deep inside muddy lanes, made of wood and bamboo and run by families in Badarpur, Tughlakabad, and Faridabad, to large showrooms in Karol Bagh and CR Park, facing the street and buzzing with customers eager to buy murtis. Sana Agarwal & Anay Samarth report.

Source: https://www.latestly.com/india/news/allahabad-high-court-directs-police-protection-for-interfaith-lesbian-couple-heres-why-7610692.html/amp

New Normal is a heartfelt Malayalam GL short film that portrays the love between Appu and Isha as something natural and ordinary rather than something that needs to be labelled as different. The story follows Appu as she gradually understands her feelings for Isha and explores the happiness, uncertainty and challenges that come with their relationship. When society and family question their love, the film touches on acceptance, identity and the pressure of conforming to what is considered “normal.” Ultimately, New Normal carries a simple but powerful message: love is about two people, not their gender.

Cast: Anagha Ravi as Appu, Swiya as Isha, with Srikanth Mohan and others. Director: Monisha Mohan Menon

For generations, women from marginalised communities have been pushed into the dehumanising work of manual scavenging, often with little choice but to continue because of the lack of other livelihood opportunities. In these on-ground testimonies from Uttar Pradesh, women speak about collecting waste by hand, carrying it on their heads, and living in neighbourhoods where caste continues to determine how they are treated.

India enacted the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act in 2013, making the employment of manual scavengers illegal and providing for their rehabilitation. Yet laws alone cannot dismantle the caste structures and social exclusion that have historically forced certain communities into this work. The testimonies in this 2019 reporting show how deeply entrenched these realities can remain.

When news of the marriage reached Eeneshwari's family, her parents travelled to Hyderabad. At the same time, a group of people travelled to Rangamun village and drove a Sonalika tractor into Rangamuni's father Kistanna's home.

Continue reading Babasaheb at BAWS.in: https://baws.in/books/baws/EN/Volume\_17\_03/pdf/222