Queer Identity in the Caribbean Diaspora with Shaharah Gaznabbi

QueeribbeanIn the final episode of Season 3, Hema and Shaharah Gaznabbi, a Toronto-based Indo-Caribbean theatre creator and drag performer, talk about the history, language, and cultural nuances of being queer in the Caribbean diaspora, how colonization has shaped attitudes towards queeribbean folks, and the evolving acceptance within communities and families.Shaharah shares their personal coming out experience, their role as the Chair of the Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association’s group EPIC (Equality and Pride for Indo-Caribbeans), and provides some insight into acceptable language in the LGBTQ+ community and relclaiming the term ‘queer’.About Shaharah: Shaharah "Gaz" Gaznabbi (They/Them) is an ACTRA & Equity Actor, Playwright, Puppeteer, Comedian, Deviser, Dramaturg, Drag Artist, (you name it!) based in Toronto.They were an Artist-In-Residence at Tarragon Theatre as a recipient of the Ellen Ross Stuart Award, and was part of Tarragon Theatre’s Young Playwrights Unit. Shaharah received The Neurodiverse Review's Birds of Paradise Emerging Talent Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023, where they presented their solo-show "What Can Indian Look Like? Can It Look Caribbean?". They have also received TO Live’s “Best of Fringe”, as well as the Canadian Green Alliance’s “Greenest In The Fringe” at the Toronto Fringe Festival 2025 for their solo puppet filled musical comedy “My Pet Lizard, Liz: The Shakespearean Existential Crisis that Led to his Ultimate Demise”. They additionally received the inaugural Gerda Hynatyshyn Launch Grant for English Theatre.Recent Credits: Noor in Season 3 of CBC's run The Burbs, Ontario and US tour of "Jungle book" Directed by Rick Miller & Craig Francis, 4 city tour of “Quest for The Moon, and 5 city tour of “Old Man and the River” both with WeeFestival.InstagramShaharah's current work:BrOWN//Out Stage at Toronto Pride 2026Go-Between Girl (Audiobook Narration) by Andrea GunrajBelly Button at Toronto Fringe 2026Cheers! The ORDA PodcastIndo-Caribbean Canadian AssociationResourcesWotless info and ticketsAn Ordinary Landscape of Violence by Preity R. KumarGuy Anabella377: The British colonial law that left an anti-LGBTQ legacy in AsiaEpisodes referencedIndo-Caribbean Canadian Culture & Community with Ryan Singh