Here’s something you don’t hear every day: A gay prince is opening up his 15-acre palace grounds to struggling LGBTQ folk who have nowhere else to turn.
India’s Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, the likely heir of the Maharaja of Rajpipla in Gujarat in western India, will personally oversee the project along with his organization The Lakshya Trust. He’ll be constructing new temporary housing on the property to accommodate those seeking refuge.
Gohil made international headlines in 2006 when he came out publicly as gay, much to the chagrin of his royal family members. He later founded The Lakshya Trust to combat HIV/AIDS and help support India’s LGBTQ population.
Though global attitudes towards homosexuality continue to shift closer to acceptance, the topic remains highly controversial in India, where many officials still interpret the law as banning gay sex.
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Many young people are thrown out of their homes after coming out, a problem the prince seeks to address with his new endeavor.
“If I could undergo these problems then any other gay person could face a similar situation,” he told the International Business Times.
“In India, we have a family system and we are mentally conditioned to be with our parents. The moment you try to come out you are told you will be thrown out and society will boycott you. You become a social outcast. A lot of people are financially dependent on their parents.
“I want to give people social and financial empowerment, so eventually people who want to come out won’t be affected. They will have their own social security system. It won’t make a difference if they are disinherited.”
At the time of the prince’s coming out, a conservative outrage was sparked. Many called on him to renounce his title, and effigies of him were burned. His parents disowned and disinherited him.
While the law remains murky regarding gay sex, India’s Supreme Court last summer issued a landmark ruling in support of LGBTQ people’s right to protection against discrimination
Charlie in Charge
A very kind thing to do for folks in need.
Bob LaBlah
Twenty-five years (or so) ago girl went on Oprah and PERFORMED. She is the exhibitionist if ever one existed. And by the way, fifteen acres isn’t very much considered the vast estates of those freeloaders over in Britain. I would love to see her and ol’ Princess Edward read each other over who freeloads the most from their subjects.
fur_hunter
And slowly, slowly the wheels of progress, equality and justice turn. In my lifetime, I have seen amazing strides forward, not without struggle and conflict. I was 24 in June of 1969 when the Stonewall event happened. And the ‘WAR’ continues against the ignorance, intolerance and bigotry of religion. ALL religions. Religion is the foundation of most of the HATE that exists in the world today. It is sad. ALL using books written by MEN….Not Gods as their references. Sad.
Kangol
This is good news. Bob LaBlah, you deserve points for remembering and mentioning Miss Thing on Oprah. It turns out that was on there twice, in 2006 and 2011.
Also, India’s Supreme Court currently is revisiting the ban on gay sex, and could potentially overturn it.
Bob LaBlah
Thanks honey, you learn something every day. Not only did I think it was back in the 1990’s that he was on that show I also thought it was more like 2005 that Oprah ended her show. It turns out it was 2011. I youtube the search and still can’t find the segment when he was on her show but at least you found it somewhere online. If you did find it please post it so we can all enjoy the laugh. Thanks.
Rex Huskey
he gets first pick!