Renowned Human Rights Activist and LGBT Icon, Harish Iyer joins Humane Society International/India

Mumbai, March 30, 2016: Harish Iyer, well known LGBT and human rights activist, has joined animal protection organization Humane Society International/India. As a director of strategic partnerships at HSI/India, Harish will take up the responsibility of making animal welfare more mainstream by aligning it with other social justice and
welfare movements.

Describing his connection with the cause, Iyer said, “As a survivor of sexual abuse for the longest part of my childhood and whose only comfort and support was a non-human creature – a dog – I understand and relate to animals very closely. It breaks my heart every time I see an animal treated with indifference and cruelty. For all the unconditional affection I have received from my four-legged companion during those tumultuous years, I feel this is my way of giving back to my late dog, who stood for humanity.”

From creating awareness on women rights to child sexual abuse and animal welfare, Iyer has prominently campaigned for many causes. Iyer is one of the most popular and vocal opponents of decriminalization of homosexuality in India and has held multiple events to generate awareness on LGBT rights. He is the only Indian listed in the Guardian’s World Pride Power List, a list of 100 influential LGBT persons in the world and shares space with the likes of Sir Elton John, Ellen De Generes, Stephen Fry, Ellen Page, Ricky Martin, Martina Navratilova amongst others. For building a consensus against sexual abuse on women and children, Iyer has earned the prestigious Energizing Bharat Award instituted by the Government of India and Network 18’s Zindagi Live Award. Iyer has been a vegetarian for a long time and is now a vegan. He lives in Mumbai with his family and two adopted feline children named Shiva and Krishna.

HSI/India campaigns on a wide variety of animal issues, including replacing the use of animals in laboratories, farm animal welfare, companion animal advocacy and wildlife protection. HSI/India’s track record of achievements in India include: the twin ban on animal testing for cosmetics and the import of animal tested cosmetics; an end to shark finning; the closure of the country’s first pig gestation crate facility; an unprecedented declaration from 24 Indian states on the illegality of battery cage systems; and securing stringent orders reiterating the ban on animal fighting (cockfighting/ bulbul fighting/buffalo fighting). With the help of fieldwork, policy change and community education, HSI/India is striving to confront cruelty and celebrate animals.

Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)