User:Mukesh bari/Sandbox

The Queer Mitra (an odd friend) is a group of people working in creating a healthy and safe environment for LGBT+ community in bhopal.

This group is the result of Bhopal Pride March and It is totally inspired by this Pride March, held to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture in Bhopal, India. After that march, many people belonging to LGBT+ community, came together. And In this way QueerMitra came in existence. On sept 16, 2017 first meeting of QueerMitra held at Chatar Patar & Chaiwala tefe, Bhopal. First time after the pride march people come together with a hope that they can make a change.

As many of the members of QueerMitra are hidden lesbian, gay and bisexuals from society. So QueerMitra uses Socia media to connect and join members and keep them hidden.

Shivam, a member of QueerMitra said, 'Our aim is to create a healthy environment for LGBT+ community, so that no person have to hide his identity from society, as still in India people are not much openminded, still they hessitate to have a normal conversation with a person belonging to LGBT+. Our aim is to change their mindset and we want to be treated as normal as others.'

QueerMitra organize many events in city to spread the message of love and inclusivity.

On Oct 2, 2018 QueerMitra inaugurated a Wall of Pictures dedicated to LGBT+ pride. The Wall is inaugurated by Onir (an Indian film and TV director, editor, screenwriter and producer) and Devi Rani (President of Devi Rani Kinnar samiti, Bhopal).

The aim of Bhopal Pride March, to make Bhopal LGBT friendly, had become the target of QueerMitra. All LGBT+ people, open minded youths and many celebrities had supported and appreciated the work of this QueerMitra community. Onir, Indian filmmaker, on wall inauguration day said, 'i am very happy that india is moving toward a healthy change, i appreciate the QueerMitra. Every member of LGBT community also deserves to be treated as normal as everyone. There is a need of similar communities like queermitra in every city to bring a change.'

One hidden member of QueerMitra shared his views with TOI, 'QueerMitra organizes many events at Chatar Patar & Chaiwala tefe in which we participate in events and discuss about our future plans and we enjoy a lot. Here we feel real, we dont have to hide anything, we feel proud on what we are. And we feel so happy, no fear of anything and QueerMitra is like our family where we have so much fun and feel real.'