November 19, 2025
8 pm Eastern | 7 pm Central | 6 pm Mountain | 5 pm Pacific
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Join in a conversation with Raja Gopal Bhattar, PhD, author of a new memoir, "Queering Constellations: Mapping this Journey Called Life," and Shireen Roshanravan, PhD, a scholar in feminism and Asian culture. Together they will discuss topics of queerness in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, including intersectional identities, navigating community and why stories matter.
Bhattar (pronouns: they/them/theirs) is an internationally recognized higher education advocate, artist, and author. Hailing from a long lineage of Hindu priests and scholars from South India, they are fascinated by the spiritual and scriptural aspects of Hinduism, Buddhism, and the power of queering rituals. Their latest book is an interactive memoir consisting of letters, poetry, art, and stories, along with activities that encourage readers to reflect on their own journeys. As a community organizer and education scholar, Raja seeks to elevate stories of both human struggle and joy cultivating a universal constellation of the human divinity. They hold a PhD in higher education and organizational change from UCLA and live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Roshanravan currently serves as the Vice President for Community and Belonging at Lewis University. Her work centers the communicative strategies and struggles in cross-racial feminist coalition building. She is the co-editor of Asian American Feminisms and Women of Color Politics with Lynn Fujiwara, Speaking Face to Face: The Visionary Philosophy of María Lugones with PJ DiPietro and Jennifer McWeeny, and an award-winning special issue of the Journal of Asian American Studies titled #WeToo: A Reader with Erin Khue Ninh.
Tags
Buddhist | Hindu