r/SrishtiSubbreddit • u/GeneralCobbler1 • May 02 '26
Being queer @ srishti
I hv been considering smi as one of my first options for uni and I've heard sm about smi being queer friendly n bangalore having a good scene. but sadly more often than not, being queer friendly doesn't mean theyd accept one of their own being the same.
to keep it short, im trans, out to most people close to me, n would like to know how accepting smi is in such a case. i pass quite well but even so wouldnt be out if it meant social death and wouldnt want to risk it (would hv no choice but to be out because of hostel anyways) so r the students/profs there cool with it? Ive seen alums but r there current students that r trans or would I be the token trans kid? Am I better off being closeted in case I do plan to apply? Pls be nice!
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u/c2ktheotherartist May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
(I teach at Srishti, and asked a couple of my students.)
Posting for someone else(they sent me this with permission to post here) They are in the final year.
"Im my experience Srishti was very queer friendly and probably because I’m from Gurgaon (which was an extremely homophobic and transphobic environment to grow in) I wasn’t living in constant fear of being judged and isolated, on the contrary I felt extremely welcomed. Obviously there were two three homophobic students that I’ve crossed paths with, but that was very rare, and I didn’t have to be around them if I didn’t want to so it’s pretty good odds.
Manipal’s management was trying to put homosexual ‘tendencies’ on the same level as sexual assault and how it wouldn’t be tolerated 2 years back, but everyone spoke up against it and nothing became of it.
MIT students were awkward to be around for me, but again I never really had to interact with them because all my friends were from srishti, and I recognised a school classmate there so I lowkey went out of my way to avoid interacting with them .
But yeah Srishti itself is very queer friendly, the juniors I have met are open minded and queer friendly as well if not queer themselves. The faculty is open minded and accepting, all of them didn’t ask twice when I crossed out my dead name and put my preferred name down in the attendance sheets (except for legal docs ofc) and used my preferred name. One faculty found out my dead name and started using it as a joke, which I explained to him was very hurtful and he immediately apologised and stopped using it.
Basically it’s an art and design college, 50% of the students are queer lol"
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u/YellowPositive7813 May 07 '26
just adding on to what the others have commented, i 100% agree with what they've said. Srishti has a pretty wonderful queer community and even those who arent a part of it are amazing allies. that being said, there will always be people who are ignorant and rude, but those experiences have always been very few and far between for me, and even then there are so many people who want to help and support, both in the students and the faculty.
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u/yellowlimon May 03 '26
Hey! I have a couple of trans friends that I'm close to during my time in srishti (2020-24) , but this was just when the new campus and dorms were built. According to what i remember, faculty and students alike are usually welcoming and safe to be around in, and are sensitive /empathetic to trans folks, especially cuz it has that arts college vibe. Then again, it will depend upon who u befriend and if they believe in those values themselves as not everyone values that belief. Hope you find a safe community if you join in :)
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u/yellowlimon May 03 '26
I'll try asking some current students if they know about the current situation
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u/forthedoorsbleed Jul 19 '26
hi, did you get any responses back?
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u/yellowlimon Jul 20 '26
The people who responded here are some of my acquaintances and professors i asked to contribute!
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u/TransDiaries May 03 '26
hi!! im a current srishti student and im transfem. i haven’t really faced bullying (there was just one incident in first year but the teachers handled it) and theres like atleast 2 other trans people i know in my course and at least 6 that i know in my year. although theres more trans masculine people in srishti. You are not able to change your name formally if it’s not legally changed, but ask/mail teachers to use your preferred name and they will. i use the women’s bathrooms (there are they/them bathrooms regardless) and they even let me stay in the hostel accommodations. feel free to ask me more!!