The Pride Alaap! Navigating and Celebrating Bengali Queer Identity

The Bengali Mental Health Movement is partnering with Apicha Community Health Center and Amader Dawat to present a special Alaap event in July for the queer Bengali community in New York City.

During this session, three queer Bengali facilitators will hold space for participants to discuss their lived experiences of being Bengali and queer, coping with challenges the community faces, and engaging creative and holistic approaches to growing connection, support, and community. Dinner will be served!

Meet our facilitators:

• Keya Acharya, LMSW, psychotherapist
• Robbie Ahmed, music producer, writer, and educator
• Sadaaf Mamoon, MHC-LP, psychotherapist

While this session is facilitated by individuals with mental health training, Alaap is not group therapy and is not a replacement for therapy or other mental health treatment. Alaap is a space for conversation, reflection, and community, where lived experience is valued, and everyone brings wisdom.

The Pride Alaap is only open to people who identify as queer and Bengali.

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About Alaap

Alaap is a support group aimed at providing a safe space for Bengali individuals to discuss and explore mental health topics, fostering open conversations and connections through shared experiences.

"Alaap" is a Bengali word that can translate to discussion or conversation in English, based on how it is used. We chose Alaap to define this support group because there is lack of conversation about mental health in the Bengali community. While ALAAP meetings are not therapy groups, they can be therapeutic in nature because attendees share their personal experiences in a non-judgmental environment. ALAAP meetings cover various mental health topics, such as trauma, addiction, and depression.