The author of Straight to Normal: My Life As A Gay Man, Sharif Rangnekar is a communications consultant and former journalist with over 25 years of experience. He uses every possible platform—talks, writing and music—to advocate change and garner support for the LGBTQ+ community. He curates the platform ‘Embrace: Music Justice Arts,’ which blends art with social justice. He is also the Festival Director of the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive, which started out in 2019.
Additionally, he is the frontman of Friends of Linger, a band that is credited with India’s first dedication to the gay community—Head Held High.
He has held positions at The Economic Times and The Pioneer, before leading Integral PR as its CEO and later as its chairman. He was named PR Professional of The Year 2013 by IPRCCA and was in the Global Power List of PR Week in 2015.
A TEDx speaker, Sharif provides counsel in the area of diversity and inclusion in the workplace specific to the LGBTQ community. He is associated with Open For Business, a platform that promotes such policies. He also provides consultancy in the areas of content, crisis communication and media engagement.
Sharif continues to write for publications such as Hindustan Times, Scroll.in, The Wire, Gaylaxy Magazine, Huffington Post and several others.