Sonali (Alyy) Patel is a trailblazing LGBTQ+ scholar, activist, and creative. She pioneered research on Queer South Asian Women’s issues in Canada, founded the Queer South Asian Women’s Network (non-profit), and recently published her first book “Don’t Tell My Parents: Queer Diasporic Truths.”

Sonali (Alyy) Patel researches the intersection of sexuality, ethnicity, immigrant families, and social movements. Her work examines queer South Asian women’s experiences in North America, including culturally unique forms of racism in Western LGBTQ+ communities. Alyy’s current research project focuses on queer South Asian-Canadian women’s experiences in the closet.

Patel, S. (2019). “Brown Girls Can’t Be Gay”: Racism Experienced by Queer South Asian Women in the Toronto LGBTQ Community. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 23(3), 410-423.

Patel, S. (2021). The Politics of Not Giving A Sh*t: Understanding the Invisibilization of Queer South Asian Women in Pride Toronto. Master’s Thesis, University of Ottawa.

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship
Best Graduate Thesis (Nominated), University of Ottawa