Mango QTs' dedication to Seattle's South Asian Queer and Transgender community has filled part of a social gap. The group, which is only active on Instagram, was organized by someone who wishes to remain anonymous.
Having emerged from an event this person organized called "Mango Bitches Unite," Mango QTs specifically ca-ters to those who identify as "desi" (those from the Indian subcontinent) and people of the South Asian diaspora, including those who are Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Afghani, or Bhutanese. The group is inclusive of those who have low exposure to foreign or modern-century culture.
South Asian immigrants began deepening their Seattle roots during the 1960s, according to Visit Seattle, which mentions how the cultural Asian traditions have influenced the city's garden designs and architecture.
"Seattle has other spaces and communities for East Asians, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander folks, and none for the brown-skinned folks of the Indian subcontinental region. I am trying to fill that gap," reads an Insta-gram post.
A picnic event on July 21 welcomed 21 attendees, and Mango QTs hopes to continue expanding the group.
"Today we agreed that we want this group to be values aligned. We agreed on anti-oppression values: abolition, anti-imperialism, re-indigenization, and caste abolition," states the post. "Although this is a primarily social community, there may be opportunities to organize in the future."
Those interested can follow @MangoQTs on Instagram.