AP QueerStation, a community organisation, celebrated Pride Month on Sunday with its 9th community meetup, themed ‘Bring Your Allies’. The event brought together over 60 LGBTQ+ community members and a few heterosexual allies for an afternoon of conversations, connection, and celebration. The meetup was attended by participants from across Arunachal Pradesh, including Roing, Mechukha, Pasighat, and other districts.
During the programme, participants reflected on the significance of Pride Month and discussed why Pride continues to be an important movement for the LGBTQ+ community. They commemorated the Stonewall Uprising and paid tribute to pioneers such as Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and many other activists whose courage and resistance made today’s progress towards equality and acceptance possible. AP QueerStation founder and activist Sawang Wangchha highlighted the importance of queer and transgender community spaces, emphasised the need to prioritise mental health, and shared updates on the recently amended Transgender Bill, 2026 and its implications for the transgender community.
The event was hosted and curated by community members Mary Siram and Rinea Taba, who spoke about the importance of queer joy, solidarity, and collective care. They encouraged members to continue supporting one another, and announced that AP QueerStation will be organising more community events in the coming months. The community expressed gratitude to the owners of 2wo Restaurant, Kobyum Zirdo and Tumi Riba, for their courageous support in providing a safe and welcoming space for the gathering.
They acknowledged that finding safe and inclusive venues remains a significant challenge for the LGBTQ+ community, making such acts of allyship especially meaningful.
