View In

India’s gay prince vows to fight for the decriminalisation of homosexuality

by Tim Gibson

India’s gay prince – and the only openly gay royal in the world – Manvendra Singh Gohil, has pledged to fight against LGBT+ discrimination in his country. Earlier this month it was announced that the Indian courts would re-examine Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits gay sex. The law was overturned in 2009 by the Delhi high court but was reinstated four years later. Currently you can face ten years to life in prison for having gay sex.

Prince Manvendra came out publically in 2006 and was met with burning effigies and protests in the streets. He was even disowned by his own mother in an open letter to the newspapers. Eleven years later Manvendra remains undeterred in fighting for LGBT+ rights.

He says, despite appearances, there was been a lot of progress, “Definitely there has been a huge change in the last 11 years. There have been some parents who have accepted their children. There has also been a lot of change in the way that the media has been reporting. Earlier, the media would get the stories mixed up and say it’s unnatural and illegal and immoral. Now the media has also started reporting positive stories, and that’s a very good thing. The more support we get from society outside of the community, that’s something which will help us win our rights.”

Like many other activists, Manvendra argues the current criminalisation of gay sex is archaic and is just an unfortunate hangover from British rule. “The law was not an Indian law. One has to understand that homosexuality has been existing in our Indian society since bygone eras,” he said. “We have temples in India which are centuries old where homoerotic statues have been openly depicted… We got independence 70 years ago, when we have got rid of the British. I don’t understand the reason why the laws made by them are continued.”

Section 377 will be re-examined by October of this year.

__________________

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs
__________________

www.mygwork.com