Manvendra Singh Gohil - India’s only openly gay prince - has announced he will be building an LGBT+ centre on his family property in Rajpipla in the western state of Gujarat, Inquisitr reports.
Gohil appeared at the recent Delhi International Queer Theatre and Film Festival and said the centre will give LGBT+ Indians a safe environment to access support.
“It is important for the LGBT community to go to a place where they can experience the freedom to be who they are even if it’s for a moment,” Gohil said.
“This centre will give them the independence to do all those things which they are unable to do living a double life in the society.”
Gohil founded the Lakshya Trust in 2000—an LGBT+ charity that supports people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBT+ seniors and provides counselling for the LGBT+ community.
The proposed centre will build on the work of the trust, providing a shelter home, skill-based training workshops and host motivational talks.
Gohil says that many members of India’s LGBT+ community continue to face stigma from their family due to their sexuality or gender identity.
“Gradually the gay community is trying not to succumb to the pressure to get married, but once people reveal their sexuality at home, their family members fail to understand and shun them.
“And since people in India are dependent on parents for financial and emotional needs until late youth, it leaves them with two options - either agree with the parents or be left without resources.
“I want the community to be independent.”
The 52-year-old was shunned by his own family when he came over a decade ago.
“When I came out in 2006, my own family disowned me and other royal families boycotted me. I see similar things happening to other people and they are left devastated.”
"Fortunately, I was on my own financially, and since we grew up with a nanny, I wasn’t very emotionally attached to my parents.
“But when they saw me doing well on my own and being making it to Oprah Winfrey’s show thrice and recently to Keeping Up With The Kardashians, they accepted me back. Now, the royal family wants selfies with me!,” Gohil says.
The prince says the LGBT+ centre will be functional by the end of 2018 and that he hopes to build a network of facilities across the country.
