Media Exposure
Press Coverage
WahStory I Imprints From Formative Years I 2024
The challenges I have faced forced me to accept my reality; that of being bisexual and polyamorous. Building courage has helped me tackle them head-on, at my pace.
UNAIDS I Meet Sonal Giani, our new NGO Delegate for Asia & the Pacific I 2023
With over 15 years of experience in human rights advocacy for India’s LGBTQIA+ community and other marginalized groups, Sonal Giani has carved a reputable name for herself in South Asia.
Business Today I LGBTQ+ employees are finding acceptance in Indian companies, but inclusivity challenges exist still I 2023
LGBTQ+ commitments from India Inc. have intensified in the past four years since homosexuality was decriminalised. But underneath the intent, challenges abound.
Femina and Mamaearth I Beautiful Indians I 2023
Award Category: People for Good. She's a trailblazer in the quest for equality and inclusion for all
IPPF I The Faces of Change: Sonal Giani I 2023
Meet Sonal Giani, IPPF's Senior Advisor on Gender and Inclusion. She is a passionate South Asian activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and is ready to lead IPPF towards an even more diverse, inclusive future!
Egomonk Insights I Queer people who are born this year are born in a free India I 2021
The power of telling the story is being reclaimed by queer people, instead of them being used just to sensationalize a character.
Times News Network I The pandemic has posed some unprecedented challenges, say prominent LGBTQIA+ Voices I 2021
The activists say that life has been really tough for the LGBTQIA+ community and they need our support.
Fifty Two I Hi, Dear I 2021
We do tend to get freaked out, and for good reason. Mainstream Indian portrayals of heterosexual romance unambiguously charge men with initiating courtships, but they either fail to account for consent or, famously, encourage violating it.
The CSR Journal I 6 most prominent Indian LGBT activists I 2020
We have begun the third week of LGBT History Month 2020 yet nowhere close to know more about the gay rights movement than when the month started.
Times of India I They're putting the B in LGBT I 2020
Stereotypes continue to dog bi people, like baggage they can't get rid of.
Podtail I Meet Sonal Giani, Independent filmmaker and LGBTQ activist | Stories You Should Know Ep 07 I 2020
This podcast is a celebration of 'Pride Month'. The story you are going to hear today is of Sonal Giani, An LGBTQ activist, and an independent filmmaker. Sonal has been actively involved in the fight against discrimination of the LGBTQ community for the last 10 years.
Vice I What Goes Into the Making of Mumbai Pride I 2019
The first time I heard of a Pride march taking place in Mumbai, I scoffed. Hard. Knowing what Mumbai is as a city, I was pretty sure it was going to be impossible to organise a march within its legendary chaos.
Hindustan Times I ‘Inclusivity’ in focus as LGBTQ film fest Kashish wraps up I 2019
As the milestone 10th year of Kashish comes to an end, the festival goers, who were a melange of fashionistas and artistes, weave zesty and zany tales of pride.
Scoop Whoop I 17 Indian LGBTQI+ Trailblazers Whose Courage Helped Others Live and Love Freely I 2019
Less than a year ago, the Supreme Court scrapped Section 377 of the Indian penal code and legalized same-sex relationships.
Republic World I India Rejects Section 377: LGBTQ Activist Sonal Giani Talks About the Supreme Court's Verdict on Section 377 I 2018
In one of the historic moves, the Supreme Court of India has finally dismantled the law that marked homosexuality as a crime in the country on Thursday, September 6.
Femina I I was outed without my consent: Sonal Giani I 2018
Sonal Giani faced discrimination, humiliation and abuse before she found her voice as a bisexual. The youth icon speaks to Femina about issues close to her heart.
Firstpost I Out and Proud: Sonal Giani on how she came to terms with her sexuality, and found happiness I 2018
As 3 February 2018 marks the Queer Azadi Pride March in Mumbai, we’re publishing six compelling coming-out stories: first-person accounts of coming out about your sexuality or gender to friends, loved ones, colleagues or even to yourself. This interview was part of Harish Iyer’s ‘I’m Coming Out’, published by Juggernaut Books , in which the personalities he speaks with explore what it means to be gay in India.
The Indian Express I Now You See Her, Now You Don’t: The invisible lives of queer women in India I 2018
The invisible lives of queer women in India. Conversation around homosexuality among women dates back to the 1980s, during workshops or conferences organised by women’s rights groups.
Better India I 8 Inspiring Indian LGBTQ Individuals Who Raged Fearless Wars & Emerged Victorious! I 2017
Some of the well-known figures from the LGBTQ community in India who have broken the barriers and stood up for themselves.
The Wire I For the Gay Community, Coming Out of the Closet is a Better Option Than Facing Social Ridicule I 2017
Section 377 is often used to harass gays, but rarely do the cases land up in courts and result in prosecution or conviction.
Midday I Willingdon Gymkhana opens doors for queer cricket league I 2016
The Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana hosts the Queer Premier League (QPL) tomorrow, making a pitch for inclusion.
Midday I Invite politicians to Kashish fest I 2016
There’s hope on a slender rope, says gay community, at volatile panel discussion
DNA India I When you are no longer ashamed, the only thing you can be is proud: Harish Iyer and Sonal Giani I 2015
With the QAM pride march round the corner, at his sarcastic and funniest best, activist Harish Iyer and advocate officer of Humsafar trust Sonal Giani spoke to dna's Preksha Malu about the celebrations, and what it means to be out and proud.
Caravan I How Section 377 Is Being Exploited By The Police and Blackmailers To Extort Men I 2015
“I had heard about one such incident,” the engineer told me when we met on 19 October 2015, “But I never expected it would happen to me.”
Mint I Rainbow Wedding I 2015
Navigating relationships in the absence of marriage equality in India makes life tougher for queer couples
Miss Malini I 5 FAQs On Being A Straight Ally—Answered I 2015
Malini’s Girl Tribe has always been a safe space for everyone to share their stories, triumphs, and struggles. To ensure it continues to be so for everyone across genders and sexual orientation, we invited LGBTQ Activist and Filmmaker Sonal Giani, to host a #GirlTribeAMA session for the Tribe.
Firstpost I Mumbai Police come to the rescue of an LGBT youth beaten up, molested by six men I 2015
Mumbai police eagerly helped an LGBT youth who had been beaten up and attacked by six men in Mumbai.
The Asian Age I TV comes out of the Closet I 2015
Same sex relationships are finding a place in mainstream television—a step that is being met with much fervour and some scepticism.
India Today I Blackmail and abuse: Gay sex ban in India stirs violence I 2015
Over the years, the country's sexual minorities - especially transgender people who are more visible - have been driven to the fringes of society, into sex work, and face discrimination in jobs and basic services such as health and education.
Bollywood Life I Connected Hum Tum is a huge step forward in terms of acceptance of same sex love, says Sonal Giani I 2013
Sonal Giani, an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) activist, is living her daily life in front of the cameras for the show Connected Hum Tum, and she has been vocal about being in love with another woman
Zee News I LGBT activist Sonal Giani happy with response to TV stint I 2013
Sonal Giani has been vocal about being in love with another woman. She admits that the show is a "huge step forward in terms of acceptance of same sex love".
Hindustan Times I LGBT community needs more than a law for less discrimination I 2013
The everyday ordeal of members of the LGBT community largely goes unnoticed. Members and supporters feel there has to be more than just a change in the law.
Rediff.com I How Abhay Deol is CONNECTED to these women I 2013
Abhay Deol's debut television show Hum Tum Connected on Zee TV will feature six ordinary women, sharing their lives and baring their souls on national television.
The Indian Express I A walk for pride and awareness I 2013
In a rare display of unity,around 200 people took to the streets and participated in the LGBTIH Pride Walk.