Dr Ranj Singh NHS Doctor, TV presenter, author & columnist
How does your intersection allow you to thrive?
I treat my intersections as my strengths. Diversity is what drives progress and evolution. Personally, I’m honoured to be part of such a rich culture, and at the same time it has given me so many opportunities to thrive. I’m a proud, happy and fortunate queer Asian, and I wouldn’t ever change that for the world! I mean, I’m on Strictly Come Dancing for crying out loud... I’m living my best life!
What was the journey to finding your identity like?
My journey certainly hasn’t been easy, but is probably similar to many others. I came out relatively late – at the age of 30 – having previously been married to a woman I loved. That process was heartbreaking for me (and my partner). As painful as it was at the time, I now understand how important it was, and particularly how important it is for others who might be going through similar experiences to see.
Who are your queer heroes?
There are so many that it’s hard to name them all. I look up to so many people who are or have been leaders and trailblazers in our community. People ranging from Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and Ruth Hunt, to Karamo Brown and Marsha P. Johnson.
What does it mean to you being part of the queer Asian
community?
I’m proud to be part of a richly diverse heritage, and being part of the queer community adds even more colour to who I am and where I’m from. As queer Asians, we have so much to offer ourselves and to the wider world, so it’s time we recognised and celebrated it.
Have you ever faced discrimination or homophobia within your industry?
I personally haven’t, but I think I’m one of the lucky ones. The media industry is much more accepting, but I feel like the medical world has a little further to go. It’s a bit ironic that the caring profession could ever be prejudiced, but it does happen. People like myself (and so many others) are here to change that though.
What do you think could be done to help promote the acceptance of LGBTQ people in the Asian community?
Education, example and experience. Communities must be educated about the real world around them, and Asian people are good learners. Queer Asians need to be as visible as possible and set a good example to show others that you can be gay and Asian. Only by people having direct experience of how wonderfully beautiful and diverse our community is, will their viewpoints change. My family is a perfect example of that.