My Indian Dad Shared Me with Other Men!
Tesh spent decades surviving severe family abuse and silence before finding his voice as a gay British Indian man. This is his raw, unfiltered story of escaping cultural trauma, breaking the silence, and rebuilding his life from scratch.
Tesh spent decades navigating the painful tension between cultural expectations, family loyalty, and his own identity. Raised within a traditional Kenyan Indian household in South London, Tesh reflects on the crushing weight of growing up as a sensitive, creative child in an environment where strict masculinity, family honour, and rigid conformity were deeply valued. In this deeply moving conversation, he shares how being perceived as different from an early age led to years of emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, as family members attempted to change who he was long before he understood his own sexuality.
In this episode, Tesh opens up about the realities of escaping a toxic domestic environment, overcoming deep-rooted shame, and the long road to trauma recovery through therapy and family revelations. He discusses the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within the South Asian diaspora, the trauma of being sent to gurus and childcare specialists to "fix" him, and what it takes to reclaim your self-worth after years of invalidation. Moving beyond the trauma, Tesh reflects on the power of chosen family, building a support system in London's LGBTQ+ spaces, and finding inner peace. Ultimately, Tesh’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, showing that while the cost of freedom is high, the reward of living authentically is undeniable.
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Our goal is to find, save, and share the untold stories of queer, trans, and intersex people from migrant and global majority communities. Every story helps us remember our shared history and inspire new generations.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ⏰ Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - Early Memories & Growing Up Different
05:07 - Sent To Gurus To "Fix" Me
11:31 - The Secret Abuse Escalates
15:31 - Attacked In My Own Home
22:44 - Ostracised: My Disastrous University Years
27:01 - Standing Up To My Father For The First Time
32:01 - Finding The Strength To Escape At 24
36:27 - Discovering The Secret Cassette Tapes
43:16 - Confronting Trauma & Finding Peace
Views expressed are those of the interviewee and do not reflect the views of Queer Global or its partners.