The recording of yesterday’s brilliant Welcome Lecture is now available on our YouTube channel! 📺 🍿 @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @sumimadhok.bsky.social

NEW ARTICLE out now. That’s my service to the discipline sorted for the next decade! A collection of 50 articles, books, and chapters that I hope will be a useful resource for anyone researching queer digital cultures in non-Western contexts. www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/docu...

@rkdasgupta.bsky.social speaking on South Asian Diasporic Cultural Production and Queer Organising for this year‘s Welcome Lecture chaired by @sumimadhok.bsky.social 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Yesterday marked 8 years since the late Sarah Hegazi raised the rainbow flag at a Mashrou' Leila concert in a moment of uncalculated joy so threatening to Egyptian authorities that they arrested, tortured, prosecuted her, and sent her to exile. Sarah in my heart today. 🌈

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

@sumimadhok.bsky.social welcoming our new cohort this morning ❤️ @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @aikoiiris.bsky.social @asiyaislam.bsky.social @hsw.bsky.social

A year on since we have been raising the alarm. We have been shouting Labour can’t out reform Reform and with the far right rising I have seen my communities divided and this is what we have now. I hope this ‘progressive fight back’ is not too little too late. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Happy Welcome everyone! 🎉 Last chance to sign up to our WELCOME LECTURE 2025! Start the academic year off right with @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @sumimadhok.bsky.social and a drink on us! 🥂 Comment for details on how to attend! 💌

What an absolute privilege it was to join Ambassador Dr Husam Zomlot at the Palestine Embassy today to raise the flag and mark this historic recognition of the State of Palestine. As he reminded us, this is just the first step, we still need the violence to end and a permanent ceasefire.

Next week! Start the academic year off with @sumimadhok.bsky.social and @rkdasgupta.bsky.social! (And a drink on us 🥂)

Queerbeat Media have published an extract from our book focusing on how Desi queers navigated the club scene, including racism, in Britain during the 80s and 90s. You can read the complete excerpt here: www.queerbeat.org/stories/in-b...

Tooley's the guy that, if you reconstructed the public timeline of events, was previously removed from his position after he (almost definitely) threatened his ex-wife with a weapon, then the police immediately searched his house and found an unregistered weapon in his bedside table.

You‘re invited to this years WELCOME LECTURE delivered by the one and only @rkdasgupta.bsky.social and chaired by Head of Department @sumimadhok.bsky.social! Start the year with a great talk and drink on us! 🥂 Details below! ⬇️

Congratulations to everyone on here! — thrilled to be sharing space w/ @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @harveyhumphrey.bsky.social Prof Churnjeet Mahn, Dr Maria Sledmere & others. Big shoutout to @yvettetaylor.bsky.social for making this happen! Out April 2026. www.bloomsbury.com/uk/queer-in-...

We‘re inviting all LSE students, staff and alumni to attend our WELCOME LECTURE 2025! 📩 Comment for details on how to attend! www.lse.ac.uk/gender/event... @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @sumimadhok.bsky.social

Desi Queers review out now by @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social 🇮🇳🏳️‍🌈 ⬇️⬇️

NEW✨ Untold Stories of Britain's queer South Asians Desi Queers by @churnjeet.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @lsegender.bsky.social & @djritu.bsky.social @hurstpublishers.bsky.social Read the #review by Kanchan Panday 👉 blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofb... #SAHM2025

Untold Stories of Britain's queer South Asians Desi Queers by @churnjeet.bsky.social @unistrathclyde.bsky.social @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @lsegender.bsky.social & @djritu.bsky.social @hurstpublishers.bsky.social Read the #review by Kanchan Panday 👉 blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofb... #SAHM2025

Pleased to see that The Telegraph India has covered my speech from the St James School Founders Day.As I said in my message: “Never be afraid to challenge what doesn’t feel right,Some of the most important changes in the world have come from people who dared to speak up,even when it wasn’t popular”

Statement

One of the toughest days since back in India. Parents in another state, undergoing treatment for a life-altering condition. I’ll be flying out to be with them. It’s hitting me hard watching the people I believed would always take care of me now needing my support. It’s heartbreaking & deeply real

Great opportunity to work with James

Sexist and transphobic abuse is escalating. This is what happens when you create a political culture obsessed with policing people’s sex.

Come work with me on my UKRI project. It is a 18 month role (0.5 FTE) assisting a team of researchers based in UK & India. Closing date: 31st July jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...

Celebrating 60 years of Newham and 150 years of St Luke’s with Canning Town residents in our aptly named Keir Hardie park today

Great to see Desi Queers on @hindustan-times.bsky.social pick of interesting reads this week. Our book is now available in India through @westlandbooks.bsky.social www.hindustantimes.com/books/ht-pic...

And that’s a wrap on Summer School! Thanks so much to everyone who participated! ☀️👋🏻 @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @asiyaislam.bsky.social

David Braniff-Herbert (LGBT+ Educators for National Education Union), Anne Clarke AM and @rkdasgupta.bsky.social for today’s Policy Makers Panel as part of LSE Summer School! ☀️

A profoundly moving service at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7th Jul London bombing. Powerful tribute to those we lost, & the bravery of the emergency workers who risked their lives. Honoured to represent Newham alongside @umakumaran.bsky.social & @rokhsanafiaz.bsky.social

Today, we mark 20 years since the horrendous 7 July terror attacks shook our city.

Someone is threatening to sue Camden council because they painted a trans flag on some roads four fucking years ago. FOUR YEARS AGO. Says she believes they infringe on her human right to freedom of belief and expression. How does paint stop you being a bigot, exactly?

So excited to talk about this necessary and incredible book! Join us on 9th July for the launch of Desi Queers: LGBTQ+ South Asian and Cultural Belonging in Britain. www.bishopsgate.org.uk/whats-on/act...

London Pride: we party and we protest, because Pride is meant to be political. ✊🏾🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸

My mom and stepdad are from the same diaspora group as Zohran Mamdani’s dad (same like “my stepdad was kicked out of the same town and knows some of his classmates”) and apparently the New York Times doesn’t understand how diaspora works, so I am going to tell you a little about my mom’s people!

It was a pleasure to join colleagues from the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & say a few words. A special thanks to Cllr Imam Haque, whose vision in founding the Kolkata London Club has helped forge meaningful ties between our two cities bound by shared values of diversity, creativity, and education.

Queer Politics in Times of New Authoritarianisms ed. @somakbiswas.bsky.social @camhistory.bsky.social @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @lsegender.bsky.social & @churnjeet.bsky.social @routledgebooks.bsky.social explores South Asian queer activism & popular culture. #Review @lsereviewofbooks.bsky.social

NEW✨ Queer Politics in Times of New Authoritarianisms: Popular Culture in South Asia edited by @somakbiswas.bsky.social @camhistory.bsky.social, @rkdasgupta.bsky.social @lsegender.bsky.social and @churnjeet.bsky.social @routledgebooks.bsky.social. #Review by Lobsang Norbu Bhutia #PrideMonth #LGBTQ+

Forest Gayte Pride. Newham is for everyone. We celebrate a borough where love, identity, and community are embraced in all their diversity. Happy Pride! #ForestGaytePride 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈✊🏾

Desi Queers reviewed in Eastern Eye, one of the oldest British Asian weeklies. #pridemonth

Very pleased to announce our new book series with Bloomsbury: South Asian Screen Studies! If you’re working on any aspect of South Asian screen cultures, we’d love to hear from you. We’re happy to chat informally about book proposals, the peer review process etc 🔗 www.bloomsbury.com/uk/series/so...

I didn’t imagine spending my Thursday evening responding to dozens of emails from civic mayors across the country, seeking permission to wear their chains while visiting Newham! A fascinating glimpse into protocols & pageantry of civic life in the UK. Every day is a learning day in public service! 🤷🏽‍♂️

Wonderful to be received at London City Hall today in our civic capacity, and to meet our fantastic Mayor Sadiq Khan, Anne Clarke AM, & Deputy Mayor Howard Dawber. Grateful for the warm welcome and thoughtful conversations and a special thanks to our brilliant Unmesh Desai AM for the invite.

Spent the afternoon at the beautiful community Up Gardens party in Forest Gate. As I said in my speech: “This isn’t just a party. It’s a powerful reminder of what makes Newham so special: the way we come together. Across backgrounds, across generations, across different experiences- we show up. 1/2

What better way to spend a beautiful Sunday morning than speaking with residents in Canning Town? Great conversations, a warm reception on the doorstep, and a few pieces of casework to follow up on. Always energising to connect directly with the community. More than 150 doors knocked again today!

Over 100 doors knocked today! Fantastic reception on the doorstep and brilliant feedback from residents about the positive changes they’ve seen in Canning Town over the last seven years. Grateful for the continued support!

Surgery tomorrow. No appointments required

My thoughts are with those affected by the horrific plane crash

A wonderful evening at the interfaith Eid event at the Good Hotel today. It was inspiring to hear messages of unity and the vital role of faith and corporate social responsibility in building stronger communities and a thriving borough. Royal Docks is a truly special place

It was wonderful to join Newham’s Chinese Buddhist community today to discuss collaboration & visit their temple in Plaistow. As Chair of the Council, I promised we would work together to bring communities closer. Like all our communities they make significant contribution to the diversity of Newham

It is very welcome to see the government today announce sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose calling for the conquest of Gaza and expansion of West Bank settlements is nothing short than a call to ethnic cleansing.