1992
- Right-wing Indian nationalists begin debating whether queer Desi groups should be allowed in the India Day Parade.
- Vaid marches to the FIA office to advocate for inclusion but is demeaned and turned away.
- Vaid is already head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the first woman of color to do so.
- SALGA organizes a protest called Desi Dhamaka (“blast” in Hindi).
- The NYC Human Rights Commission intervenes on SALGA’s behalf for safety and inclusion.
- SALGA marches in the India Day Parade for the first time.
1993
The FIA denies SALGA's application unless they agree not to display any signs identifying as queer, which SALGA refuses.
1994
- FIA bars SALGA, claiming they missed the deadline and aren't specifically "Indian."
- Priyamvada Sinha, SALGA spokesperson, writes: “We’ve come too far...to sit in the back of the bus in our own community.”
- On August 21, SALGA members march with Sakhi, who carry protest banners reading: “SALGA was banned from marching today. Why?”
1995
SALGA is again excluded, with the FIA claiming SALGA is too broadly South Asian to qualify as “Indian.”
1996
SALGA is excluded again, now on the grounds that only FIA members can participate. SALGA’s coordinator Faraz Ahmed tells the NY Times this was “just a way of keeping us out.”
1997
- SALGA holds a press conference to protest exclusion and highlight discriminatory double standards.
- Other “South Asian” labeled groups were permitted to march without issue.
- SALGA and allies form the South Asian Progressive Task Force to protest FIA policies.
2000
SALGA is allowed to march with restrictions. FIA warns SALGA not to include “obscene stuff or provocative clothing.”
2001
- FIA again shows reluctance, claiming SALGA violated prior conditions by displaying “large signs.”
- The Community Board supports SALGA's inclusion and threatens to cancel the parade without them.
- FIA remains ambiguous about future participation, saying only that they might “recommend” it for the next year.
