With a historic legacy, a custom Bollywood soundtrack, and deep roots in community activism, the volunteer-led non-profit prepares to celebrate and protest at Chicago’s iconic Pride Parade.

Trikone Chicago is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting queer and trans South Asians in the Chicagoland area, along with their families, friends, allies and broader community.

The first Trikone chapter was founded in 1986 in the San Francisco area and was the first group of its kind in the world – with its legacy tied to Nazi concentration camps in Germany of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Chicago chapter was founded in 2009 by Dr. Kareem Khubchandani, Dr. Neeral Patel and Amit Patel.

“Trikone Chicago strives to create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where LGBTQIA+ South Asians can connect, build community and proudly promote awareness and acceptance of their identities,” said Rohan Anand, the chair of the Pride board for Trikone Chicago, who also hosts film festivals, conducts literary events, creates awareness campaigns, hosts dance parties featuring drag performances and DJs for the organization.

South Asians affiliated with Trikone trace their ethnicities to many places, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, or of Indo-diaspora in the Caribbean, Africa, South America, the South Pacific, the UK/Europe and Canada.

Trikone means “Triangle” in Sanskrit, an ancient language of South Asia, and was a reclamation of the upside-down pink triangle Nazi concentration camps used to identify gay prisoners. The symbol gained popularity in the 1980s as an emblem of LGBTQ pride, so it served as the prototype for the first Trikone chapter in California.

“Being entirely volunteer-led encourages individuals to step out of their comfort zones and become active in driving the culture,” Anand said. “Our work is made possible by the dedication and passion of our volunteers, who help build a more inclusive and supportive community for all.”

Trikone Chicago has members across the Chicagoland area, plus the Midwest region and across the U.S.

“We have continued to work toward key goals, such as bringing people of South Asian origin together through in-person and virtual events, promoting awareness, visibility and legal and cultural acceptance of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and helping individuals affirm both their South Asian identity and their sexual orientation,” said Anand, who volunteered to initiate the Pride parade participation within a month of finding out about the organization in April 2019. In a span of 60 days, he managed to rally a team to fundraise and execute the first of many participations in the annual parade.

And yes, Trikone Chicago will be proud and present when the annual Chicago Pride Parade steps off on Sunday, June 28.

“Every time we march (in the parade), we always feel a ‘high’ after we conclude. It is remarkable to feel seen across crowds of thousands who cheer for us in the streets of Chicago,” Anand said. “It is a huge love letter to the community that has held space for us to be visible and celebrate our joy.”

Trikone Chicago brings a floating dance party to the parade – with at least 50 expected, or more. Participants submit Bollywood and other South Asian songs, and their DJs meet a week beforehand to create a mix of songs.

Many Trikone Chicago marchers will wear elaborate costumes and carry signs.

“During our first-year marching (in the parade), we completed the parade before a torrential downpour came over and cancelled more than half of the parade. We were lucky to be among the last ones off the route, and after the rain cleared, there was a beautiful sunset over the city of Chicago,” Anand said. “The day of the parade, we gather at our starting point, set up the float with flags, banners and other décor and hit the ‘play’ button. The dancing and celebrations continue until we formally exit the parade route.”

Anand said Pride Month 2026 is very reminiscent of 2019, “when we felt compelled to participate because it was the 50th annual celebration of Pride following the Stonewall riots. The messaging then, and is just as much now, is that Pride is not just a parade, but also a protest. There are a lot of reasons to feel the protest energy in 2026, just as much as it might have felt in 1969.”

• To support Trikone Chicago for the Chicago Pride Parade, go to: https://gofund.me/50501eccd
• For more information about Trikone Chicago, go to: https://www.trikonechicago.org/