Pride Month is a celebration of identity, self-expression and belonging, but it is also a reminder of the personal stories that continue to shape conversations around acceptance and allyship.
Across Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks, artists, creators and allies have shared candid reflections on everything from coming out and self-love to the importance of feeling seen and accepted. This Pride Month, we’re revisiting some of the moments that stayed with us.
1. Karan Johar on Bringing LGBTQ+ Conversations to India’s Dining Tables – “I’ve brought homosexuality to dining table discussions.”
In his autobiography An Unsuitable Boy, available on Audible, filmmaker Karan Johar reflects on the impact some of his films have had on conversations around LGBTQ+ representation in India. Addressing criticism that his films stereotype homosexual characters, Karan shares: “People say that I make fun of and stereotype homosexuals. But I say, no, I’ve brought homosexuality to dining table discussions.” He goes on to share how audiences responded to films like Dostana and Bombay Talkies: “I’ve received over a thousand emails and letters from gay boys and girls thanking me for making Dostana because, they said, now at least people know what the concept is.” Speaking about the intent behind these stories, he adds: “I’ve not made fun of homosexuality; I’ve addressed it with humour, but all for a reason.”
2. Vicky Kaushal on why acceptance matters – “Sometimes we come out of the closet but what happens is the closet becomes bigger.”
During a conversation with filmmaker Mozez Singh on Azaad Awaaz, actor Vicky Kaushal spoke about allyship and acceptance. Reflecting on experiences shared by members of the LGBTQIA+ community, he observed:”Sometimes we come out of the closet but what happens is the closet becomes bigger. After a lot of internal effort, you come out to your friends or family but they say, ‘Okay this small group knows about this but the world doesn’t need to know.’ So the closet has become bigger.” Later in the discussion, he shared a perspective on acceptance that resonated widely: “Everyone wants to be happy and what does that mean? To be happy is to feel loved. And what does feeling loved mean? To feel accepted.”
3. Richa Chadha’s message on Pride, acceptance and allyship – “Do it when you want, do it how you want, do it when you are ready, when your family is ready but do it. It will set you free and if you’re not ready to do it, that’s also fine”
Appearing on Azaad Awaaz, Richa Chadha spoke candidly about allyship and offered words of encouragement for those considering coming out. When asked what she would say to homophobes, her response was straightforward: “Be chill. Yeh ho raha hai, hota aaya hai aur hota bhi rahega. Aap ise rok nahi sakte kyuki yeh ek natural cheez hai.”
She also reflected on what Pride represents: “The reason that we associate queer people with pride is because they have been a suppressed lot, a lot who have been discriminated against. So this whole concept of pride comes from the fact that you own and take pride in who you are.”
4. Lilly Singh on the hardest conversation of her life – “At the age of 30, I came out as bisexual to my family.”
In her audiobook Be A Triangle, Lilly Singh shares personal reflections on identity, self-acceptance and family. Looking back on her experience of coming out, she says:
“At the age of 30, I came out as bisexual to my family. It was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” What followed, however, wasn’t what she had imagined. “After much reflection, I’ve come to realize that the mental picture I took of this moment was not entirely reflective of the truth. In reality, my parents came into my room and hugged me.”
5. Tan France on finding a place where he could be himself – “I remember distinctly at the age of 16 desperately wanting to go to New York. That would be the place I could be myself”
In Tan France’s Queer Icons, Tan France reflects on his own journey while exploring the lives of influential queer figures throughout history. Recalling a formative experience from his teenage years, he shares: “I remember distinctly at the age of 16 desperately wanting to go to New York. That would be the place I could be myself, be openly gay and nobody would cause me any issues.” The trip left a lasting impression. “We went for five whole days. I lived the greatest days of my entire life within those five days. I was exactly who I wanted to be.”
From stories of coming out and self-discovery to conversations about allyship and acceptance, these moments from Audible Originals, podcasts and audiobooks offer a glimpse into the many experiences that shape Pride. This month, they’re a reminder of the power of listening—to stories, to perspectives and to one another.
6. Sushant Divgikr on the question that changed everything – “My father literally laid the red carpet for me and asked me the simple question, the three words, ‘Are you gay?'”
In an episode of Live Your Best Life with Karan Johar, Sushant Divgikr opened up about coming out to their family and the support they received along the way. Sharing one of the most memorable moments from their journey, Sushant recalled: “My father literally laid the red carpet for me and asked me the simple question, the three words, ‘Are you gay?'”
The conversation also touched on confidence and self-belief, with Sushant reflecting: “I’ve learned to tell myself that I’m fantastic. I’ve learned to tell myself that I’m worth it, I’m capable and every second I breathe there is a reason why I’m here.”
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