The reason I moved to London was to give myself mental space after coming out to my Asian family. My parents were devastated as they had planned an arranged marriage for me, their only son, and the cultural significance of my wedding was huge. Even though they came from a place of love, these expectations were causing me immeasurable stress and upset. I had no choice but to leave the family home for the sake of my mental health.

Today, after having left home and ingratiated myself with the ‘gaysian’ scene, my relationship with the family is slowly mending.

What does 'gaysian' mean, you ask? It's an amalgamation of the words 'gay' and 'Asian' that describe me and a whole underground LGBT scene. Our scene only exists in larger cities like London. It’s usually confined to a few monthly club nights in an obscure venue – but it’s about to get bigger.

These club nights are an opportunity for Asian LGBT people to meet and socialise. But perhaps more importantly, it’s a place to dance the night away accompanied by a heady mix of Bollywood and bhangra tunes. It may seem like that’s not so different from what happens on the mainstream gay scene, albeit with different music – but the gaysian scene is unique, as there’s an emphasis not only on expressing one’s sexuality but on celebrating Asian culture. When many Asian people grow in families with extremely conservative views, we can end up feeling like our identities are torn in two by the realisation that we’re gay, bi or trans. Gaysian celebrations work to reconcile both sides of our identities.

When I first moved to London after leaving my family home, I thoroughly researched the gaysian scene and clocked a place to go. I caught three buses to a north London club that was reminiscent of my secondary school’s PE hall. Glamorous it wasn’t, but it didn’t matter as I got to see many LGBT Asian people be happy and carefree. I marvelled at the existence of so many people living perfectly contentedly who were exactly like me. It was supremely liberating.

Controversial Channel 4 programmes Show all 10 1 /10 Controversial Channel 4 programmes Controversial Channel 4 programmes Benefits Street The first series of Benefits Street made a star of James Turner Street resident White Dee (pictured). Last year, the programme caused as much controversy as Top Gear, being criticised for benefiting the ratings rather than the people who are in it. Channel 4 Controversial Channel 4 programmes The Undateables It first aired in 2012, featuring disabled singletons on a quest for love. Critics attacked the marketing of the reality TV show as "sensationalist", "harmful" and akin to exploitative Victorian "freak shows", but Channel 4 argued that the campaign and title was a reflection of society's own prejudices. Channel 4 Controversial Channel 4 programmes Dogging Tales The show was the most watched programme by 16-34 year olds, causing reactions on the disturbing range of animal masks worn by the “doggers”, and on the statistic reported on the show that 70 per cent of lorry drivers go dogging. Channel 4 Controversial Channel 4 programmes Big Fat Gypsy Weddings The show has been a ratings winner for Channel 4, but it was criticised by the Traveller community, saying it fuels discrimination and portrays their lives inaccurately. Controversial Channel 4 programmes The Paedophile Hunter The documentary shone a light into the murky world of internet vigilantism. In it, online vigilante Stinson Hunter and his associates lure and trap sexual predators by posing as underage children online, and then pass evidence on to the police and post it online. Channel 4 Controversial Channel 4 programmes Sex Box In the show couples have sex in a soundproofed box and then discuss it with a panel of experts afterwards. Our reviewer called it a titillation that masquerades as serious television. Controversial Channel 4 programmes Drugs Live: The Ecstasy Trial Hosted by Jon Snow, the programme showed people trying Ecstasy live on air. Actor and comedian Keith Allen volunteered to help the live study on the effect of the drug. Controversial Channel 4 programmes Angry White and Proud The documentary showed some of the less salubrious sides of far right groups and activities in this country, showing evidence that whilst it is true that actual street base support has dropped, this does not take into account how the narratives of these extreme groups has pervaded and spread across the internet. Channel 4 Controversial Channel 4 programmes Ukip: The First 100 Days The documentary received over 6,500 complaints after it imagined former Ukip leader Nigel Farage as Prime Minister. Controversial Channel 4 programmes Married at First Sight Documentary programme featured three couples, two of whom decided to get married without having previously met. Cameras followed them through their wedding night, honeymoon and their first few weeks of living together. Channel 4

But once I became a regular on the scene, I noticed that Asian LGBT liberation was limited. Outside of the relative safety offered by gaysian spaces, many men and women still experience deep anxiety around coming out. It’s not unusual – or unreasonable - to fear being disowned by one’s family, shunned from religious society or even ending up with threats to one’s life. It can often feel as though it would be easier if we were white.

Excitingly this week, the gaysian community’s existence came to public attention in Channel 4’s ground-breaking Muslim Drag Queens documentary. I was initially nervous watching it; I felt protective of the gaysians involved who were baring their lives on national TV. My fears, however, were quickly quelled. It’s impossible not to feel warmth towards those who have expressed their deepest fears and desires throughout the programme, and I feel thankful for their courage.