Founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Shamina Singh.
Founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Shamina Singh, brought together South Asian leaders and celebrities to celebrate The Respect For Marriage Act for Valentines Day event named Pyar is Pyar which means “Love is Love” in Hindi. The event was one of the first major first shows of support to the South Asian LGBTQ+ community by business leaders and celebrities of South Asian descent. Proceeds for the event went to Desi Rainbow, an organization that creates a safe space for South Asian families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals to learn about important issues, find community and provide support to their loved ones. Singh believed the event would both recognize the positive force the South Asian LGBTQ+ has become while strengthening relationships that can yield powerful partnerships over time. “In teaming up with Desi Rainbow, it also provided an opportunity to expand capacity, resources, and support for families and younger people to ensure they have every opportunity to thrive and reach their potential,” she continued.
Following the Diwali Celebration hosted by President Biden and Vice President Harris at the White House, an inspired Singh and queer restaurateur and Sona Restaurant Owner Maneesh Goyal discussed ways to combine their personal and professional interests and strengths. The two then aligned with Rayman Kaur Mathoda, who was working with the organization Desi Rainbow to bring the event to life along with a pretty powerful network that would help bring the vision of love and inclusivity to life around Valentine’s Day. The host committee included, Kal Penn, Shamina Singh, Lilly Singh, Tan France, Sarita Chowdhury, Rayman Kaur Mathoda, Maneesh Goyal, Anjula Acharia, Anita Chatterjee.
Maneesh K. Goyal, Opal Vadhan, Shamina Singh and Gautam Raghavan with the letter from Joe Biden.
Pyar is Pyar also received support from the White House. Opal Vadhan, personal aide to VP Kamala Harris, and Gautam Raghavan, Director of White House Presidential Personnel, read a personal letter of support from President Joe Biden to the hosts and attendees of the event, emphasizing the importance of fighting for LGBTQ+ equality.
Other leaders have also expressed excitement about the event and what it means for the greater South Asian community. Event co-host Anjula Acharia, Founder & CEO of A-Series Investments and Management said, “As a South Asian woman, I am filled with immense pride and admiration for these LGBTQ+ leaders, who are also some of my dearest friends. Their courage and resilience serve as inspiration to others who struggle in their pursuit to live authentically. I have no doubt that their stories will continue to touch the hearts of many, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future for all. I stand with them to proclaim 'love is love,' regardless of one's race, gender, or sexual orientation.”
During her career, Singh has been fortunate to work for leaders who understand that diversity and innovation are two sides of the same coin and critical for staying competitive in a dynamic environment. However this type of enlightened leadership is often difficult for many companies to fully grasp or implement across the organization, “I want to do what I can to help operationalize best practices with boards and executive teams while supporting the growth and development of colleagues earlier in their careers,” Singh said. The event support to Desi Rainbows is one of the ways Singh has provided support to her community. The organization was founded by Aruna Rao who started due to her own personal journey with her own child coming out as gay in high school and then trans in college.
Rayman Kaur Mathoda, Board Chairperson of Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies, and family.
“I thought all my dreams for my child's future had come to an end. It took me a long time to shed all the bias and misinformation I had accumulated growing up in India, and as an immigrant who assumed that LGBTQ+ people didn't exist in my community,” said Rao. “It soon became apparent that there was an intense need for an affinity group that addressed the intersections of being diasporic, Desi, and LGBTQ+ identified or a parent or family member. Our vision is to build a South Asian community where diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity are valued, affirmed and celebrated by all.
The organization which began as a virtual community in response to the pandemic in the fall of 2020, and has since built a virtual global community of over 2000 Desi LGBTQ+ people and their family members. Today there are 40 trained volunteers and counting, that address the need for mental health and wellness through peer support, by learning from others who have walked in your shoes. “We're doing this through training Desi LGBTQ+ folks, parents and family members to run our monthly support groups, to offer one-on-one peer support,” Rao shared.
