18 October,2023 08:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, LGBTQ+ activist
There is one not-too-happy but still very determined prince looking over the Rajpipla State, in Narmada, Gujarat. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil's voice was a mix of cheery and just slightly weary as he said, "A number of us: lawyers, activists, petitioners had a fairly long meeting post the immediate reading out of the same-sex marriage rights verdict. Of course, the Supreme Court has not recognised same-sex marriage, but with the debate and the number of questions, it was evident that largely there is significant confusion. Besides the most obvious and clear point that same-sex marriage is not legally recognised, other doubts may be cleared with the reading of the order."
The "gay prince", as he is referred to by most, when asked about the mood as the verdict was being read, stated, "When the Chief Justice of India (CJI) started speaking, there was considerable hope and even some cheering in the community. Some, in typical knee-jerk fashion even thought that the verdict was: same-sex marriage is recognised early on, as certain very heartening and welcome statements were made with reference to the community. It was only later that, the bubble started to deflate and actually burst when we realised that the ball was in the Parliament now, it has been deftly and I daresay, disappointingly lobbed back." Gohil compared the confusion to clarity when he rewound back to 2018, "when the verdict was crystal clear as a five-judge bench unanimously decriminalised sex between two same-sex consenting adults."
For Gohil there are some takeaways that are uplifting. He said, "Conversion therapy has become illegal. We know a lot of this still goes on, where licensed and I repeat licensed medical practitioners, though there are some quacks too, so-called mental health experts advocate some kind of drugs or treatment to convert the gay person to straight. Families at times, force their queer family member into such treatments. It is a very common and heinous practice. The court has touched upon protection like the fact that if the queer person has left his/her home, he cannot be forced to return home through violence, threats or intimidation."
What Gohil finds disconcerting is that there is no fixed timeline for a committee which the Court said must be constituted to examine queer rights. "There is also the question of who will represent the community on this committee," said Gohil, echoing some immediate concerns and top-of-the-mind queries. "It does seem that the ball is being passed around, with nobody seeming to want to take that final decision on same-sex marriage rights. Who should that be? Why this back ân' forth, that is what we want to know and there is a feeling that nobody wants to pick up the burning coal."
The prince though, whose story has also been featured on international media like the Oprah Winfrey Show and is now one of the most visible and vocal faces of the movement stated in a dust-yourself-up-and-get-back-up moment, "Setbacks are behind us. We now have to address Parliamentarians. We have to come up with a strategy where we talk to Parliamentarians, about why we need marriage equality. I have done so individually in the past, talking about how it is good for the image and economy of the country. It will definitely boost tourism." He ended with, "The queer community is disappointed but we have not lost hope. Look back at our journey; we took this right up to the Supreme Court, that is something to be very proud of. It takes many steps to arrive at a milestone, seven colours to make a rainbow and several obstacles on the way to equality."
