Alyy Patel

Sonali (Alyy) Patel
Patel at Pride Toronto's 2019 Parade
Born
Sonali Patel

1996 (age 27–28)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other namesAlyy Patel
EducationUniversity of Toronto (BA);
University of Ottawa (MA);
University of British Columbia (PhD)
Occupations
  • Canadian LGBTQ+ Activist
  • Sociologist
  • Author
  • Public Speaker
Known forSouth Asian-Canadian LGBTQ+ Activism,
Pioneering Research on Queer South Asian Women in Canada [1]
Notable workBrown Girls Can't Be Gay: Racism Experienced by Queer South Asian Women in the Toronto LGBTQ Community (2019);
Don't Tell My Parents: Queer Diasporic Truths (2022)
Websitealyypatel.com

Sonali Patel, also known as Alyy Patel, is a Canadian LGBTQ+ activist. She is best known for her research, advocacy, and public speaking engagements concerning the issues and experiences of Queer South Asian Women in Canada.[2] Patel has made monumental strides for Queer South Asian diaspora in the Canadian LGBTQ+ movement.[3] Patel is among the first to academically theorize and advocate for the culturally unique discrimination against Queer South Asian Women in North American LGBTQ+ Communities. Patel is a pioneer of research on Queer South Asian Women in Canada.[4] Patel first coined the acronym 'QSAW' to abbreviate 'Queer South Asian Women' as a group or collective identity.[5]

Patel rose in prominence upon the publication of her article "Brown Girls Can't Be Gay:" Racism Experienced by Queer South Asian Women in the Toronto LGBTQ Community" (conducted in 2018, published in 2019).[3] In 2019, Patel founded a grassroots organization, the Queer South Asian Women's Network (QSAW), which works to mobilize, visibilize, and connect gender-marginalized LGBTQ+ South Asians in Canada.[6] In 2020 and 2024, Patel made Toronto LGBTQ+ history as the first speaker of South Asian descent at Pride Toronto's Dyke March.[7] In 2023, Patel was recognized as one of Top 7 South Asians in Canada for her trailblazing efforts in systemic changemaking.[8] Patel is the author of Don't Tell My Parents: Queer Diasporic Truths.

  1. ^ Patel, Sonali (2019). "Brown girls can't be gay: Racism experienced by queer South Asian women in the Toronto LGBTQ community". Journal of Lesbian Studies. 23 (3): 410–423. doi:10.1080/10894160.2019.1585174. PMID 30907270. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Patel, Sonali. "Meet Alyy Patel". Alyy Patel. Wix.
  3. ^ a b Mann, Samantha (31 July 2020). "Meet Alyy Patel, Founder of Queer South Asian Womxn's Network (QSAW)". Bust Magazine. Archived from the original on 2024-07-17. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  4. ^ Patel, Sonali (29 June 2022). "The invisibility of queer South Asian-Canadians". Rabble.
  5. ^ Patel, Sonali (2019). ""Brown girls can't be gay": Racism experienced by queer South Asian women in the Toronto LGBTQ community". Journal of Lesbian Studies. 23 (3): 410–423. doi:10.1080/10894160.2019.1585174. PMID 30907270. Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2022-09-29 – via Taylor & Francis Online.
  6. ^ "Queer South Asian Women's Network". QSAWnetwork.com. Queer South Asian Women's Network. Archived from the original on 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  7. ^ Patel, Sonali. "LGBTQ+ South Asian Trailblazer: Alyy Patel". Alyy Patel. Wix.
  8. ^ "South Asian Heritage Month Campaigns". Council for Agencies Serving South Asians. CASSA. 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.