Report reveals family pressure, surveillance and stigma faced by queer Kashmiris

Researchers from Sonzal Welfare Trust, with support from the Marivala Health Initiative, produced the "Yes, We Exist" report after eight months of fieldwork involving 60 participants, 44 of whom identified as LGBTQIA+. The study found that tightly knit families frequently monitor phones, social-media accounts and movements, and pressure queer members into heterosexual marriage, sometimes withdrawing financial aid. Educational institutions are described as venues for verbal harassment and physical bullying, and transgender individuals report exclusion from mosques.

While some families have begun consulting activists and showing concern, broader societal stigma endures, compounded by Kashmir’s heavily militarised setting that limits gatherings. Sonzal’s own online presence has suffered hacking and hate, prompting a shift to platforms like Instagram. Lead researcher Aijaz Ahmad Bund warns that increased visibility can bring both acceptance and heightened risk, leaving many queer Kashmiris uncertain about coming out.