Donate to QSA!
Queer South Asians (QSA) is a trans-led and volunteer-run community
group that organizes cultural events and community support programs for
LGBTQ+ South Asian community in Toronto. QSA was founded by Arshi Syed
an immigrant Bangladeshi, queer and transgender man and community
developer in 2015.
We are fundraising to continue to offer free programs and events for our community for 2025-2026 season!
We are fundraising to continue to offer free programs and events for our community for 2025-2026 season!
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Past and Present Free Programming:
• Annual Community Dinners (Since 2023)
• Open Mic Events (open to all)
• Peer Support Group (on going)
• Craftathon
• QSA Under the Stars (performances and social)
• Dyke March & Trans March (annual)
• brOWN//Out meet up (annual)
• QSA ArtSpace Roots Revived (Youth Program) 2025
• Queer South Asian Bazaar (November 2024)
• Seasonal outdoor socials, virtual events, meet ups and more!
All of QSA's events are free and accessibility prioritized!
• Annual Community Dinners (Since 2023)
• Open Mic Events (open to all)
• Peer Support Group (on going)
• Craftathon
• QSA Under the Stars (performances and social)
• Dyke March & Trans March (annual)
• brOWN//Out meet up (annual)
• QSA ArtSpace Roots Revived (Youth Program) 2025
• Queer South Asian Bazaar (November 2024)
• Seasonal outdoor socials, virtual events, meet ups and more!
All of QSA's events are free and accessibility prioritized!
Year Ahead:
Based on funds raised and capacity, QSA hopes to organize the following programs in the 2025-2026 period:
• Community Dinner 2026 (January)
• Peer Support & Community Well Being (resume writing, gender affirming care, crisis navigation, budgeting etc)
• Open Mics, Performances and Music Nights
• Intergenerational Storytelling Events
• Socials: paint & crafts, picnic, day trips, movie nights, game nights, supper club and reading club
We deeply appreciate collaborations, mentorship, referrals or any feedback on our planning and program offers.
Based on funds raised and capacity, QSA hopes to organize the following programs in the 2025-2026 period:
• Community Dinner 2026 (January)
• Peer Support & Community Well Being (resume writing, gender affirming care, crisis navigation, budgeting etc)
• Open Mics, Performances and Music Nights
• Intergenerational Storytelling Events
• Socials: paint & crafts, picnic, day trips, movie nights, game nights, supper club and reading club
We deeply appreciate collaborations, mentorship, referrals or any feedback on our planning and program offers.
All of our programs and events prioritize Transgender and queer south
asian emerging artists, youth, newcomers and immigrants.
QSA is completely volunteer run and 100% of donations are put towards covering cost of events, artist fees and accessibility. Your support allows us to keep hosting free events for queer South Asian community!
Your donations will support the following essential expenses for all of our programming during 2025-2026 period.
• Space Booking Fee
• Honorarium for artists & performers
• Food + Beverages
• Supplies
• Zoom, Canva, Google Storage + Web domain Fee
• Accessibility and Misc. expenses related to events
We have posted our receipts and invoices on GoFundMe in the past and will continue to do so.
QSA is completely volunteer run and 100% of donations are put towards covering cost of events, artist fees and accessibility. Your support allows us to keep hosting free events for queer South Asian community!
Your donations will support the following essential expenses for all of our programming during 2025-2026 period.
• Space Booking Fee
• Honorarium for artists & performers
• Food + Beverages
• Supplies
• Zoom, Canva, Google Storage + Web domain Fee
• Accessibility and Misc. expenses related to events
We have posted our receipts and invoices on GoFundMe in the past and will continue to do so.
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About the Founder: Arshi Syed
QSA was founded in 2015 by Arshi Syed who is a Bangladeshi immigrant transman, community developer and advocate for Queer South Asian community in Toronto.
Arshi left home at the age of 19, after accidentally getting outed and facing homophobic violence from family for being queer. He has a deep understanding of the struggle many queer South Asians, especially youth, experience prioritizing safety and mental health over family responsibilities. He has lived experience of navigating crisis, precarious housing, substance use, depression, social isolation and neurodivergence. He also experiences the challenges of existing as an immigrant Bangladeshi transman with cultural teachings, history and knowledge that often has no space for expression or exploration within broader queer community in Toronto.
Arshi started Queer South Asians to address systemic gaps for support services for his community, and to build a warm and welcoming space for connection for LGBTQ+ South Asians. He has a deep passion for supporting his community and believes in collective learning, growth and success.
Arshi hopes QSA will grow to offer essential services as an organization dedicated to supporting the unique needs of Queer South Asians in Toronto and beyond. For now Arshi is focused on connecting, feeding and supporting as many of his LGBTQ+ South Asian community folks as he can with the support of a wonderfully dedicated group of volunteers who are also supporting his dream for a thriving and vibrant future for Queer South Asians.
(QSA Team: Luxmy - Peer Support, Aman- Web and Aarya - Operations. Photo by Saf - Social Media) Please donate and share this fundraiser so we can continue with our free community programs for another year!
QSA was founded in 2015 by Arshi Syed who is a Bangladeshi immigrant transman, community developer and advocate for Queer South Asian community in Toronto.
Arshi left home at the age of 19, after accidentally getting outed and facing homophobic violence from family for being queer. He has a deep understanding of the struggle many queer South Asians, especially youth, experience prioritizing safety and mental health over family responsibilities. He has lived experience of navigating crisis, precarious housing, substance use, depression, social isolation and neurodivergence. He also experiences the challenges of existing as an immigrant Bangladeshi transman with cultural teachings, history and knowledge that often has no space for expression or exploration within broader queer community in Toronto.
Arshi started Queer South Asians to address systemic gaps for support services for his community, and to build a warm and welcoming space for connection for LGBTQ+ South Asians. He has a deep passion for supporting his community and believes in collective learning, growth and success.
Arshi hopes QSA will grow to offer essential services as an organization dedicated to supporting the unique needs of Queer South Asians in Toronto and beyond. For now Arshi is focused on connecting, feeding and supporting as many of his LGBTQ+ South Asian community folks as he can with the support of a wonderfully dedicated group of volunteers who are also supporting his dream for a thriving and vibrant future for Queer South Asians.
(QSA Team: Luxmy - Peer Support, Aman- Web and Aarya - Operations. Photo by Saf - Social Media) Please donate and share this fundraiser so we can continue with our free community programs for another year!
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Past Major Donors, Sponsors and Collabs:
Some of our past donors, collaborations and sponsors include: SKETCH, Carrot Green Roof & Garden, The 519, Weston Frontlines Centre, Gerrard India Bazaar BIA, Glad Day Bookstore, Another Story Bookstore, Rubicon, Bombay Palace Downtown, Sweetie Pie, Serano Bakery, Avling, Bawara, and DreamEscape.
At our 2024 Community Dinner we collaborated with Community Fridges Toronto to gather food donations to stock up open access community fridges. We extend invites to collectives and organizers serving QTBIPOC communities in the city to share their initiatives and promote emerging artists and performers at our events.
The funds raised through GoFundMe will support the following expenses for all of our programming during 2025-2026:
• period Space Booking Fee
• Honorarium for volunteers and performers
• TTC Presto Tickets
• Food + Beverages
• Zoom Account + Web domain Fee
• Supplies
• Accessibility and Misc. expenses related to events and programs
QSA is committed to keeping our events free to attend and open to community.
Your support would be incredibly helpful in sustaining our group and supporting our LGBTQ+ South Asian community! If you would like to know more about us please find us on Instagram!
Some of our past donors, collaborations and sponsors include: SKETCH, Carrot Green Roof & Garden, The 519, Weston Frontlines Centre, Gerrard India Bazaar BIA, Glad Day Bookstore, Another Story Bookstore, Rubicon, Bombay Palace Downtown, Sweetie Pie, Serano Bakery, Avling, Bawara, and DreamEscape.
At our 2024 Community Dinner we collaborated with Community Fridges Toronto to gather food donations to stock up open access community fridges. We extend invites to collectives and organizers serving QTBIPOC communities in the city to share their initiatives and promote emerging artists and performers at our events.
The funds raised through GoFundMe will support the following expenses for all of our programming during 2025-2026:
• period Space Booking Fee
• Honorarium for volunteers and performers
• TTC Presto Tickets
• Food + Beverages
• Zoom Account + Web domain Fee
• Supplies
• Accessibility and Misc. expenses related to events and programs
QSA is committed to keeping our events free to attend and open to community.
Your support would be incredibly helpful in sustaining our group and supporting our LGBTQ+ South Asian community! If you would like to know more about us please find us on Instagram!
