Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘I didn’t want to be termed as normal’

How being queer gave Navel Nazareth his life’s purpose.

‘I didn’t want to be termed as normal’

AN EMPOWERING journey has seen Navel Nazareth go from being bullied as a child to finding inner strength, accepting who he is and setting up a successful business.

The 26-year-old, who is based in Mumbai, founded inspiring online portal Closeted Stance, which gives a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to connect and express themselves. The entrepreneur also empowers others by sharing his story and commitment to creating safe workspaces.


Eastern Eye got him to share his story, from being bullied to coming out as queer and being a beacon of hope for others. He also spoke about the devastating impact of words, the online portal and podcast and building his own identity.

“People underestimate the power of the words we speak. Many times, we just utter things without even thinking or realising how it would affect the other person’s life. It is important to be mindful about what we say, as even a small word can change someone’s life. Imagine, while we all run in the race of being termed as ‘normal’ as per societal norms, somebody is constantly told that they are different and an abomination to society. How would that make them feel? Bad, right?

“When we are born, it is with a clean slate with no choices and thoughts of our own. As we grow up, we develop preferences based on our genetics, experiences, and willingness to try different things. It’s society that labels every thing around us and forces us to have a liking for things that are a determined fit for our gender. Even today, boys are mentally pressured to participate in sports, while girls are encouraged into arts.

11 College was a new beginning for Nazareth.

“This is my story of being a queer entrepreneur who never could understand the barriers set by society based on gender, and always tried to do what felt right to him.

“From a very young age, I was bullied for being ‘just a little effeminate’ in my behaviour, thus leading to mental torture, not only in my school but also in my local neighbourhood. At the age of worrying about what games to play and which homework to complete, I started devoting my focus to walking and talking in a certain way. But the more I tried to control these attributes, the more people started noticing. It always felt like it was my fault for not being able to control my body to seem like every other boy in class.

“There were times when I kept reminding myself to speak with a harsh tone and keep track of my hand gestures, but as much as I tried, I failed and was always a laughingstock in the entire school. It took some time to find a way not to be in the spotlight or in the eyes of bullies, but this unwanted attention continued until my college journey began.

“College was a new beginning, as there was no trace from a painful past to bother me, and that enabled me to build a new identity for myself. Though most of my attributes remained the same, being a part of cultural events enabled me to muster the courage to accept myself for who I was.

“I realised that I didn’t want to be termed as ‘normal’ any more and started calling myself ‘queer’, and that has stayed ever since. While still an umbrella term, it gave me the ability to embrace the fact that I was different from heterosexuals, while having the ability to explore my gender identity and sexuality. So in my case, the word, which directly translates as ‘weird’, became something that gave me the power and strength to be myself.

“With inter-collegiate competitions, functions, and study, slowly and steadily the focus started to shift from over-caring about myself to doing something for the college. That, in return, did give me much-needed respect. When college ended, it was very difficult as I had deeply invested myself in various activities, and needed to come out of that, so I decided to join a satellite news channel.

“This enabled me to witness the true power of media. Being more passionate about writing than broadcasting led me to join a newspaper. This exposed me to the realisation that there was not a lot of relevant information about the LGBTQIA+ community out there. Being effeminate in nature and having that close connection led me towards starting an informative platform called Closeted Stance.

“A classmate from college decided to join me in building this portal. It became a platform through which a lot of people who were questioning their sexuality or sexual orientation got a space to know more about themselves. As we started growing, we realised not everyone prefers reading, hence the idea of starting a podcast – Queer Stance – came into existence. Setting up such a portal in a conservative country like India was and is still very difficult and scary, but I knew it was important as there are thousands of young people like me who would like to know more about gender identity, sexuality and sexual orientation.

“Beyond the job and portal, we started getting freelance projects. Soon a few of them converted into retainer clients, and we had enough to leave our jobs and start working on them. Despite being risky, we took that leap and worked hard, going from working in any available café to renting office space. We created an LGBTQIA+ friendly office and made Closeted Stance as a subsidiary to keep reminding us of our values.

“I am happy as the co-founder and CEO of Neo Aeon Media Solutions LLP. We have eight employees in an inclusive workspace that is discrimination- and bullying-free. I feel hopeful about the future and am looking forward to a society where no one is bullied or made to feel different or damaged because of how they identify themselves, or for the person they love.”

www.closetedstance.org

More For You

​Dilemmas of dating in a digital world

We are living faster than ever before

AMG

​Dilemmas of dating in a digital world

Shiveena Haque

Finding romance today feels like trying to align stars in a night sky that refuses to stay still

When was the last time you stumbled into a conversation that made your heart skip? Or exchanged a sweet beginning to a love story - organically, without the buffer of screens, swipes, or curated profiles? In 2025, those moments feel rarer, swallowed up by the quickening pace of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
sugary drinks and ice cream

Researchers from the UK and US analysed data from American households between 2004 and 2019

iStock

Global warming may drive higher consumption of sugary drinks and ice cream, study warns

Highlights:

  • Hotter days linked to greater intake of sugary drinks and frozen desserts
  • Lower-income households most affected, research finds
  • Climate change could worsen health risks linked to sugar consumption
  • Study based on 15 years of US household food purchasing data

Sugary consumption rising with heat

People are more likely to consume sugary drinks and ice cream on warmer days, particularly in lower-income households, according to new research. The study warns that climate change could intensify this trend, adding to health risks as global temperatures continue to rise.

Sugar consumption is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and has surged worldwide in recent decades. The findings, published in Nature Climate Change, suggest that rising heat could be nudging more people towards high-sugar products such as soda, juice and ice cream.

Keep ReadingShow less
Camellia Panjabi's cookbook elevates
vegetables from sides to stars

Camellia Panjabi (Photo: Ursula Sierek)

Camellia Panjabi's cookbook elevates vegetables from sides to stars

RESTAURATEUR and writer Camellia Panjabi puts the spotlight on vegetables in her new book, as she said they were never given the status of a “hero” in the way fish, chicken or prawns are.

Panjabi’s Vegetables: The Indian Way features more than 120 recipes, with notes on nutrition, Ayurvedic insights and cooking methods that support digestion.

Keep ReadingShow less
Spotting the signs of dementia

Priya Mulji with her father

Spotting the signs of dementia

How noticing the changes in my father taught me the importance of early action, patience, and love

I don’t understand people who don’t talk or see their parents often. Unless they have done something to ruin your lives or you had a traumatic childhood, there is no reason you shouldn’t be checking in with them at least every few days if you don’t live with them.

Keep ReadingShow less
HH Guruji performed the Dhwaja Ritual at Ambaji Temple

HH Guruji performed the Dhwaja Ritual at Ambaji Temple

Mahesh Liloriya

The holy town of Ambaji witnessed a spiritually significant day on Sunday as His Holiness Siri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, head of the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre, London, performed the Dhwaja ritual at the historic Ambaji Temple in Gujarat, one of the most revered Shakti Peeths of India.

Keep ReadingShow less