Barack Obama Sends a Message of Support to a Sikh Man Wearing a Rainbow Turban

Kohli received thousands of positive messages

Former United States President Barack Obama tweeted a message of support to Jiwandeep Kohli, a Sikh American, who shared on social media a photograph where he sported a rainbow turban to honor Pride Month[/tweetit]. Obama told the amateur baker that he could take pride in a lot of things. Kohli is a graduate clinical psychology student and proudly identifies himself as bisexual. Not only Obama, but a lot of admiration has also come his way via social media. The former president wished everyone “Happy Pride Month.”

Barack Obama Sends a Message of Support to a Sikh Man Wearing a Rainbow Turban[/tweetthis]

For Kohli, this newly found social media celebrity fame is not his first foray into public exposure. He was a contestant on The Great American Baking Show aired by ABC in 2018. The Sikh tweeted back to the former president thanking Obama for his support and the presidential complements.

You've got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way. Happy Pride Month, everybody! https://t.co/SO7mgnOkgl

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 4, 2019

The picture at the center of the adulation is not a new one. Kohli took the picture in 2018 when he attended the San Diego Pride event. He reshared the image on June 1 to mark the first day of the Pride Month in 2019. The image subsequently went viral. Twitter users made several positive comments, and Kohli was happy that he decided to be visible. He knew the risks of negativity and backlash, but he also was aware of a certain sense of community. Kohli received thousands of messages of support along with unalloyed joy. Many responses have come from individuals who are afraid to display their true selves to the world at large.

It may be surprising to note that another Sikh attendee inspired the design of a gay turban at the pride parade. The sight of a fellow gay Sikh interested him, and he realized that the way he tied his turban had the correct numbers of layers required to create a rainbow. Kohli promptly went into work, putting in some extra fabric into his turban. A additional extra safety pins were made to make the now-famous pride turban. The photo has been liked and shared thousands of times.

Happy #pride Month!! I love President Obama so much and I always will. Here's one reason: https://t.co/qOKzoVy9cN

— Alanna Fox Starks (@MermaidGirl888) June 5, 2019

Resources

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