We have received many questions about the anthology’s focus, and, to clarify these questions, the editorial team would like to make the following statement: After much dialogue and thought, the editorial team has chosen to maintain our focus on South Asian queer diasporic experiences in, or passing through, the United States.

While we wish we were able to expand the scope of the project, we are aware of our own experiences and limitations as individuals who have lived in the U.S. Moreover, the ways that we understand and define our identities are contextual, and we want to maintain the cultural nuances and experiences of living in the imperial United States. The terms ‘Queer,’ ‘South Asian,’ and ‘Desi’ all entail a specific cultural meaning in the U.S., and we want to unpack the deep meanings of those terms. A project with a broader scope would require recognition of different cultures and relationships to power that we ultimately did not feel we were able to bring to the project.

With this focus on the US, we encourage submissions not only from people currently residing in the US, but also from individuals whose stories have passed through or been influenced by living in a US-context. This also includes individuals who have multiple routes to the US South Asian diaspora, whether directly from the South Asian subcontinent or through other locations, including but not limited to the African continent, the Caribbean, the UK, Canada, Australia, and South America.

We wish the best of endeavors for any projects that hope to have a broader focus and scope than ours! Please feel free to reach out with further comments and questions at queerdesianthology@gmail.com.

– Vinita, Ami, & Sasha