Chai & Chat: Care before Romance

In many South Asian immigrant communities, love doesn’t begin with romance—it begins with care. Before people can date openly, form partnerships, or imagine long-term futures, they often need safety, family support, mental health care, and community belonging. In South Asian immigrant communities, these foundations are shaped by immigration, culture, and generational expectations—often with higher stakes for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families. This Chai & Chat focuses on the systems of care that make love possible 💕 parental support, chosen family, and community-led resources that help people navigate identity, boundaries, and belonging. Anjali Rimi is a San Francisco Bay Area, USA based award winning Global South Indian Hindu Kinnar Immigrant Trans Woman activist. She is the co-founder and the most recent CEO/President of ParivarBayArea. Aruna Rao founded Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies after a 20 year career in mental health advocacy and activism with a focus on the needs of immigrant families. She is the proud parent of a transgender young adult. The Desi Rainbow is running a Community Needs Survey to better understand the needs, experiences, and priorities of South Asian LGBTQIA+ people and their loved ones in North America. The responses collected will guide the development of programs, support services, and outreach efforts that reflect the realities of our diverse community. 🌈 Take the survey at desirainbow.org/survey This survey is for adults aged 18 years and older. It should take you about 20 minutes to complete.