Humsafar Trust is an NGO in Mumbai which promotes LGBT rights. Founded by Ashok Row Kavi, it is one of the largest and most active of such organisations in India.
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Origin
Indian writer and LGBT rights activist, Ashok Row Kavi founded Humsafar Trust in the late eighties after returning from Canada. At that time prejudice and conventional Indian societal values prevented MSM and transgender Indians from getting effective health services. The initial focus of Humsafar Trust was on activism for providing HIV/AIDS health services to gay men, but soon expanded to provide guidance, checkups, hospital referrals, confidential HIV testing, counseling and outreach for the complete spectrum of the LGBT community.
Project Bolo
Humsafar Trust was the primary organiser of Project Bolo, an Indian LGBT oral history project funded by the United Nations Development Programme.
Activism
Humsafar Trust organises an LGBT film festival in Mumbai.
Humsafar Trust has supported the organisation of flash mobs to protest.
In January 2012 Humsafar Trust director Vivek Anand filed a complaint on behalf of attendees at an LGBT fundraiser which was targeted by a protestor and police.