In his native India, Sunil Gupta's work often causes controversy for its honest portrayal of gay life but this month it will be celebrated as part of GFEST: Gaywise FESTival (November 9-21).

The renowned artist, writer and gay activist has had more than 90 international solo exhibitions, most recently at Yale University, and now brings a series of his photographs entitled Asian Future to Menier Gallery (Nov 9 to 14) that explore moments from South Asian Queer life sketches.

He is one of six visual artists taking part in the eighth annual festival which brings together LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) artists and performers from around the world.

Organised by Haringey-based arts charity Wise Thoughts, its theme this year is (Complacent Present)… Fragile Future? drawn from the feeling that while the LGBTQI community enjoys more tolerance and equality than at any other moment in history, many people still face unimaginable horrors in countries as diverse as Russian, Syria and Uganda.

Opening up the discussion will be art critic Anna McNay, who will head up a debate on Sexuality and South Asian Identities at Menier Gallery on Nov 14. There’ll be a tour of Tate Modern’s Level 4 Galleries with artist Michael Petry looking at queer art on Nov 16 hosted by Tate curator Marcus Dickey Horley.

A UK premiere of The Surface by American filmmaker Michael J Saul, opens the two-day film programme at ArtHouse in Crouch End on Nov 17, following a young man's emotional search for identity in the modern gay world. It will be followed by a director Q&A.

The Sink the Pink series of eight shorts on Nov 18 will include Pink Pilgrims and Trannysformation looking at the identities and differences between drag and tranny and Nerdesin Askim? (Where Are you My Love? ) telling the story of transsexual sex workers in Instanbul where there is very little protection and no hate crime laws.

This year’s GFEST concludes with an evening of classical music entitled Tonal Future on Nov 20 at St Pancras Parish Church.

The evening aims to raise funds for and awareness of, the relatively silent’ world of gay composers and gay music. Having worked with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the National Orchestras of Lebanon and Malta, and having directed Oxford’s University Church mixed-voice choir for 10 years, Gulliver Ralston will present a solo piano recital featuring works of Francis Poulenc.

Liam Byrne, professor of viola da gamba (a historical hybrid of the guitar and cello) at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, will play forgotten gems of baroque music by Marin Marais and Sainte Colombe alongside newly commissioned works by living composers such as Nico Muhly.

Details: gaywisefestival.org.uk