>MorganLoys: MorganLoys moved page Gaylaxy to Gaylaxy (magazine): Fix article title

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MorganLoys moved page Gaylaxy to Gaylaxy (magazine): Fix article title

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title = Gaylaxy
| logo =
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| editor = Sukhdeep Singh
Sachin Jain (Hindi)
| editor_title = 
| previous_editor =
| staff_writer =
| photographer =
| category =LGBTQ+
| frequency = Bi-monthly
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| circulation =
| publisher =
| paid_circulation =
| unpaid_circulation =
| circulation_year =
| total_circulation =
| founder =Sukhdeep Singh
| founded =
| firstdate = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|01|10}}
| finaldate =
| finalnumber =
| company =
| country = India
| based =
| language = English, Hindi
| website = {{URL|www.gaylaxymag.com}}
| issn =
| oclc =
}}
'''''Gaylaxy''''' is an Indian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ([[LGBT]]) magazine.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/18/india-gay-mobile-app_n_4809655.html|title = Gaylaxy, Gay Indian Website And E-Zine, Launches Mobile App|last = Nichols|first = JamesMichael|date = 18 February 2014|work = The Huffington Post|access-date = 11 September 2015}}</ref> The magazine is based in [[Kolkata]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sharma|first=Parvati|title=Coming out soon|url=http://pink-pages.co.in/general/press/coming-out-soon/|access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref>

==History and development==
''Gaylaxy'' was founded by Sukhdeep Singh.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/When-will-India-get-its-first-lesbian-comic-character/articleshow/48916426.cms|title=When Will India Get Its First Lesbian Comic Character?|last=Dasgupta|first=Priyanka|date=11 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|work=Times of India}}</ref> In 2010, Singh was still an eighth semester BTech student at the [[Indian School of Mines]] in [[Dhanbad]]. Singh is the current editor-in-chief and is also a gay rights activist in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/india-state-plans-official-rehab-cure-gay-teens120115/|title=India State Plans Official Rehab to 'Cure' Gay Teens|last=Morgan|first=Joe|date=12 January 2015|website=Gay Star News|access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> The initial team consisted mostly of the editor's close friends and contacts. The first issue was published in January 2010, after India's "high court overturned a law that criminalized homosexuality." The second issue of the magazine saw the launch of the website.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/18/india-gay-mobile-app_n_4809655.html|title=Gaylaxy, Gay Indian Website And E-Zine, Launches Mobile App|last=Nichols|first=JamesMichael|date=18 February 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> Later, in 2013 this law was again reinstated, making being in a same sex relationship in India illegal again.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/01/new-delhi-gay-lesbian-march-_n_6245802.html|title=India's Gay And Lesbian Community Demands End To Discrimination at New Delhi March|last=George|first=Nirmala|date=1 December 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref>

After the Indian Supreme Court's decision effectively re-criminalizing LGBTIQ citizens in December 2013, a dedicated Hindi section of Gaylaxy Magazine was created with an inaugural issue of 8 articles. Sachin Jain joined forces with Sukhdeep as he wanted to positively and constructively channelize his anger and frustration at disparaging description of the community as "a minuscule minority with so called rights", rooted in the misconception that the indigenous queer movement is an elitist product of Westernization, liberalization and globalization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/New-Years-gift-Hindi-edition-of-LGBT-magazine-launched/articleshow/28452193.cms|title=New Year's Gift: Hindi Edition of LGBT Magazine Launched|date=6 January 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

''Gaylaxy'' also released an [[Software|app]] on 14 February 2014 relating to the website and its content.The application is maintained by Apurv Gupta.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/387863/gaylaxy-mobile-app-gay-community.html|title=Gaylaxy - Mobile App For Gay Community|date=22 February 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> In their effort towards going mobile, the website was also made available on news reading application called "Plash".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/387863/gaylaxy-mobile-app-gay-community.html|title=Gaylaxy - Mobile app for gay community|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref> The ''Gaylaxy'' app is considered a "possible first for the gay community" in India, according to ''[[The Times of India]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social/New-cellphone-app-for-LGBT-community/articleshow/30881178.cms|title=New Cellphone App for LGBT Community|date=23 February 2014|access-date=11 September 2015|work=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Publication and content==
''Gaylaxy'' was originally distributed as a monthly magazine.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-digital-afterlife-of-the-queer/742105/|title = The Digital Afterlife of the Queer|last = Bhatia|first = Richa|date = 26 January 2011|work = The Indian Express|access-date = 11 September 2015}}</ref> From 2011 to 2013, it was a bi-monthly<ref>Shruti Nambiar, [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ezine-expressway/876493/0 "E-zine Expressway"], ''The Indian Express'', 16 November 2011</ref> publication, distributed online free of cost. But from 2014, ''Gaylaxy'' is available only as a website and discontinued its pdf issues.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

The magazine claims to have a worldwide readership, with nearly 60% from India, followed by United States, UK, [[Pakistan]] and Canada. The magazine has contributors from all parts of India, including Pakistan.<ref name=":0" /> It has covered a wide variety of issues pertaining to LGBT in India.<ref>Anna Leach, [http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/indian-t-shirt-brand-apologies-gay-rape-joke250413 "Indian T-shirt brand apologies for gay rape joke"], ''Gay Star News'', 25 April 2013</ref>

The content is generally made up of:

* A cover story highlighting in detail various LGBT issues in the country.
* LGBT news from India and around the world, details of film festivals, pride festivals, interviews.
* Relationship advice, movie reviews, literature, fiction and poems sent in by readers, sexual health and safety, and tarot readings.
* Personal articles sent by people about their opinions, lives and coming out.

Each issue of ''Gaylaxy'' also carries a list of [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]s across India working for LGBT issues with their contact details. It has covered issues from all around the world including the anti-gay bills in Uganda and Russia, [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|California Proposition 8]] and [[LGBT rights in Pakistan]]. The magazine also publishes regular news articles on its websites about LGBT events in India.

== Events ==
Gaylaxy has been organizing various seminars, events, ceremonies, workshops, awareness sessions for the community and at colleges as well.
* In October 2016, it organized an event called " Breaking the Closet " wherein many activists including [[Gautam Yadav]], Rituparna Borah, [[Anwesh Sahoo]], [[Sharif D Rangnekar]], and several people from the audience shared their coming out stories and the connotations of " closet ".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/574448/breaking-closet.html|title=Breaking the closet|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>
* It supported the pride march organized by [[Indian Institute of Technology Delhi]] and [[University of Delhi]] students where Sukhdeep Singh spoke about coming out.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/IIT-D-holds-DUs-first-pride-march/articleshow/54937739.cms|title=IIT-D holds DU's first pride march - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>
* In November 2016, it organized " Queer Carnival " where people from the LGBTQ+ community showcased their talent in singing, dancing, poetry etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vartagensex.org/details.php?p=583569e0e549d|title=Varta Article|website=vartagensex.org|language=en|access-date=18 February 2017}}</ref>
* It organized a workshop on Gender, Sexuality and Power in [[Presidency University, Kolkata]] on 15 December, through practical hands – on exercises and interactive sessions.The workshop involved a journey through multiple exercises and interactive sessions to break down the stigma and silence the concerns issues related to Gender and Sexuality on campuses.<ref>[http://www.gaylaxymag.com/blogs/gaylaxy-conducts-workshop-gender-sexuality-power-presidency-university-kolkata/#gs.7MA5XBA]</ref>

==Works==
Gaylaxy Hindi has published a total of 185 works by 53 contributors since 1 January 2014. The magazine has published an Indo-Pak gay love story called 'Zero Line' by a queer writer Hadi Hussain Bhatt from Lahore, reporting on issues and achievements of both Pakistani and Bangladeshi LGBTIQ movements, development of relationships based on trust with closeted individuals in the heartland and encouraging them to express themselves. Gaylaxy also interviewed Xulhaz Manan, just a couple of days before he lost his life to extremists in Bangladesh. In 2015, Sachin was invited to speak about our work with Gaylaxy Hindi at the Queer Asia Conference at the Society of Oriental and African Studies in London. In 2016, his article on Hindi queer writing, "(Not) His Master's Voice" was also published in an anthology about Indian urban queer spaces called "Queer Potli".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.be-app.me/articles/2016/9/19/gaylaxy-magazine|title=Creating safe spaces for LGBTI: Behind Gaylaxy Magazine, India|newspaper=Navigating LGBTI-friendly spaces in Asia - BE|access-date=18 February 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards and recognitions ==
Sukhdeep Singh, for his work on ''Gaylaxy'' and significant involvement and leadership in LGBT communities, was conferred with January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award on 1 January 2017 by the South Asian queer organization Sher Vancouver.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.straight.com/life/850601/south-asian-lgbt-magazine-founder-sukhdeep-singh-receives-sher-vancouvers-youth|title=South Asian LGBT magazine founder Sukhdeep Singh receives Sher Vancouver's youth leadership award|date=4 January 2017|newspaper=Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly|access-date=18 February 2017|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[LGBT rights in India]]
*[[Homosexuality in India]]
*[[LGBT themes in Hindu mythology]]
*[[LGBT culture in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.gaylaxymag.com/ Official site]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2010 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Bi-monthly magazines published in India]]
[[Category:LGBT-related magazines published in India]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 2010]]

Gaylaxy (magazine) - Revision history

>MorganLoys: MorganLoys moved page Gaylaxy to Gaylaxy (magazine): Fix article title