Overcoming Shame to Love Who You Are
Play • 21 min

Jor grew up in a very religious Indian family. Coming out to himself and to his parents took years. And, Aruna Rao, who guides South Asian LGBTQ+ individuals and their families, helps us accept and affirm our loved ones' identities.

Jor Gonsalves is the host of  Unshaming, a podcast about representation and storytelling. You can listen wherever you get your podcast. 

Featured Expert: 

Aruna Rao is the proud mother of a transgender child. She serves on the steering committee of API Rainbow Parents of PFLAG NYC and is the founder of Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies, an organization for South Asian immigrants with LGBTQ children that fosters understanding and acceptance among South Asian families, with the goal of affirming and celebrating LGBTQ+ individuals. She has developed culturally sensitive and innovative networks for South Asians and is developing training for a peer-to-peer support network. She has spoken and promoted family acceptance at venues such as the Philadelphia Transgender Wellness Conference, Gender Conference NYC, In My Mind: A Mental Health Conference for LGBTQ People of Color and the National Queer API Alliance conferences. Aruna was the Associate Director of NAMI NJ for 18 years, where she founded SAMHAJ, a program to provide support and education for South Asian immigrants affected by mental illness. Learn more about the work they do on their website, here.

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