Celebrating Middle Eastern and South Asian Queerness

Planning Events Featuring Queer South Asian and Arabic Writers, Actors, Music, and Artists. dedicated to providing exceptional experiences that break barriers, challenge norms and ensures our community receives the same level of representation as the broader queer community

Jalsa Queer Events: Middle Eastern & South Asian LGBTQ+ Culture

Welcome to Jalsa Queer Events: Uniting Middle Eastern and South Asian LGBTQ+ Culture

Experience Jalsa, the vibrant event planner and promoter that fuses Middle Eastern and South Asian rhythms with the pulsating energy of EDM while providing a welcoming space for the queer community. Jalsa embodies various meanings across languages - in Arabic, it signifies a meeting, a procession, or even a protest, while in Gujarati and Bengali, it translates to enjoyment and fun.

At Jalsa, we embrace cultural diversity, offering more than just club nights. Our events feature queer South Asian and Arabic writers, actors, and artists, showcasing the rich creativity of these cultures. From book readings to art exhibits, we aim to elevate your experience and bring the best to our community. You can contact us for more information.

Get in Touch

Our website is a celebration of the queer South Asian and Middle Eastern community, offering a calendar of events, a business directory to support community members, and a matchmaking page featuring a hottie of the week and their social media profiles.

About the Founders

Al Rajan

Al Rajan

Al is a restaurant professional passionate about creating and highlighting events catering to the LGBTQ+ South Asian and Middle Eastern community. His goal is to establish unforgettable moments for this vibrant community.

Shane Ferrao

Shane Ferrao

Al's long-time partner, Shane, believes in the power of networking to connect like-minded individuals. He is passionate about arts and culture, aiming to promote and support the incredible South Asian and Middle Eastern artists, writers, and performers in Toronto.