Godrej, Westland Launch Queer Directions to Amplify LGBTQ Voices

Godrej DEI Lab and Westland Books launch Queer Directions, a new imprint spotlighting LGBTQIA+ voices through poetry, non-fiction, and fiction.

on May 16, 2025

Godrej, Westland Launch Queer Directions to Amplify LGBTQ Voices

Godrej DEI Lab, the inclusion and diversity initiative of Godrej Industries Group, in association with Westland Books, has introduced a new publishing imprint called Queer Directions (QD). The imprint is committed to highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices by way of various genres, such as non-fiction, poetry, and, later on, fiction.

Under the initiative, Queer Directions will release six books this year, with a focus on celebrating queer expression, identity, and lived experience. The imprint aims to bridge queer creatives with a wide cross-section of readers, both LGBTQIA+ and allies.

Parmesh Shahani, author of Queeristan and Head of Godrej DEI Lab, will be Series Editor for the imprint. Talking about the project, Shahani mentioned, "The idea is to build a bridge, not a border. In a time when queer rights are in jeopardy globally, this imprint is an act of solidarity and a space to foster new, genuine voices from within the LGBTQIA+ communities. It will present the fuller, richer diversity of queer lives to straight allies and non-queer readers."

Westland Books, an imprint that has already published many award-winning LGBTQIA+ works, has continued its dedication to the genre in this dedicated imprint.

"It was a long-standing dream that some day we would be in a position to roll out a reflective, inclusive and genuinely intersectional imprint dedicated to finding and supporting new voices within the LGBTQIA+ space. Queer Directions is that," said Karthika V.K., Publisher, Westland Books. And we couldn't have had more positive and active partners than Godrej DEI Lab and series editor Parmesh Shahani to guide and navigate the direction and reach of all that we publish in QD."

With Queer Directions, the Godrej Industries Group continues its mission towards social inclusiveness and equity. The project underlines the possibilities of collaborations in building diverse stories around the corner and opening up space for inclusive storytelling.