On Thursday 6 September 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down section 377 of the penal code, effectively decriminalising homosexuality. This landmark victory took years of effort, spanning back at least as far as July 2009, when the Delhi High Court decriminalised homosexuality among consenting adults in that city. Eventually, a group of prominent LGBTQ+ rights activists – including journalist Sunil Mehra, chef Ritu Dalmia, hotelier Aman Nath and businesswoman Ayesha Kapur – approached the Supreme Court to reconsider the issue. Among the petitioners was Keshav Suri, executive director of the Lalit Group of hotels, which runs 12 hotels across India and one in London.

Keshav, who is gay and grew up in India, has made the hotel chain India’s most inclusive and welcoming by far, pushing the envelope by running gay-friendly nightclubs within them and even bringing in drag shows from around the world. We catch up with the pioneering young hotelier as he celebrates not only a new age for the LGBTQ+ community in India, but also his recent wedding to his long-time partner in Paris.

Keshav Suri Shivam Saxena


Tell us about the significance of the Supreme Court verdict this week and how you became involved in the petition.

'It means I can live freely, without the fear of being wrongly prosecuted for love. It means equality. And it reiterates the fact that we, as a nation, have been ushered into a new era. Though this landmark judgment has tremendous significance, we have just scratched the surface.

Kitty Su [the nightclub chain within the hotels] and The Lalit are inclusive spaces. In 2017 our #PureLove Campaign gained momentum and then I decided to take the battle to court and ask for equal rights. The petition ended up being a labour of love for my best friend, lawyer Neeha Nagpal, but it took an army to make everything happen.

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This judgement is so much more than what we could ask for. I was right there and internally somersaulting. I wanted to scream! It opens the doors for equality to such a marginalised and underrepresented community. No longer will we live in the shadows. The courts finally have our back.'

Over the last two years we have worked with and hired more than 35 transgender employees




You’ve been an activist for the LGBTQ+ community for years. How did you get to this point?

'I do not call myself an activist. But the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016 triggered my personal and professional awakening towards the issue. A security guard killed 49 people and wounded 53 others. My desire to stand up and speak my heart was inspired because I could not imagine this ever happening in India. I am glad a lot of Indians took to the streets in the form of parades and public art, and onto social media in the form of viral protests. All that effort has paid off. It’s truly historic and a deserving victory for so many.'



What was it like growing up in India as a young gay man?

'Being gay hasn’t always made life easy. I went to an all-boys Catholic School in Delhi. I was sneered at for my mannerisms at times. I've been called every name in the book.

Inevitably, the female roles in school plays were given to me. I was fine with that. It did not bother me. I accepted the female roles happily. But somewhere [within my consciousness], it got me thinking and I realised that this was a perception of me being "gay", which led to me being stigmatised.

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Though school was tough, it also helped me develop a thick skin and fight any phobia that existed. When I went for my master’s degree at SOAS University in London, it opened my mind and I was ready to take on the world.'


What initiatives did you bring in at The Lalit and did you face resistance internally? If so, how did you overcome it?

'I am proud of the initiatives we introduced at The Lalit and even prouder of The Lalit family who have been supportive all the way through. I started by sensitising my teams – and personally travelled across my hotels in India – to educate my team members at all levels. Over the last two years we have worked with and hired more than 35 transgender employees. We have also taken our initiatives to our hotel in London.'



Do you think these initiatives have paid off financially?

'Yes, most of them have. However, when I started, it was from a place of passion, to bring about a change and I was ready to take that monetary risk. We are lucky that it has paid off as well.'

Inclusion has economic benefits as well

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Is there one initiative that stands out in your mind?

'I first introduced the #PureLove campaign in my hotels to gauge reactions. This campaign was designed to promote inclusivity and respect. I was pleasantly surprised by the response it got. Hiring India’s first DJ in a wheelchair, organising a power walk with acid attack survivors and providing mediclaim [hospital insurance] to same-sex couples are a few initiatives that are closest to my heart. As part of each campaign, we conduct numerous all-inclusive events such as brunches, fashion shows and parties. We regularly conduct "gender sensitisation" workshops at our hotels too.'



How do you balance running a business with your social causes?

'I am passionate about both roles. So I found ways to integrate the two.'



You’re starting a new conference later this month. Tell us about it.

'I will be launching Keshav Suri Foundation on 13 October 2018 and announcing my tie-up with It Gets Better India [a global platform to uplift, empower and connect the LGBTQ+ community]. This is the result of the success of different initiatives carried out by The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group under the #PureLove campaign. Through the Keshav Suri Foundation, we'll raise awareness of the issues faced by the deeply marginalised and highly discriminated against LGBTQ+ community in India. The Foundation will also provide training programmes for people from the community so that they can become a part of the mainstream economy.

Our aim is that, through dialogue with corporates, NGOs, the entertainment industry, and the political and legal fraternity, we can improve the situation for the LGBTQ+ community in India.'

Keshav Suri

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How do you see the future of LGBTQ rights in India?

'It’s been a long fight and first I want to celebrate and savour the moment. The striking down of section 377 by the Honourable Court is an iconic moment for India and I am proud that I was part of this piece of history for LGBTQ+ rights in India.

I feel like we can become an inclusive society that is mature and diverse. I want to be the catalyst that sees that change in the workplace and corporate India – where people can be accepted on merit, regardless of their disabilities, sexual preferences or gender.

I think inclusion has economic benefits as well, and people should see that. By including members of the LGBTQ+ community in society, by giving them respect, we stand to enhance productivity, reduce mental health issues, and see a higher contribution to the GDP. It is about the power of the pink currency.'



Tell us why else you are celebrating.

'I'm happy to say I am married! I got married in France on 8 June 2018, as homosexual marriage is legal in France. It’s unfair that we as a couple have equal rights in France, but it's not recognised in the country we choose to live in. However after the judgement, it makes both of us proud to live in India.'

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