Gay Star News is reporting that Crown Prince Manvendra Singh Gohi, the world’s only openly gay Prince, plans to open an LGBTQ support center on Royal Family grounds in India.
Along with advocacy organization, Lakshya trust – of which he is the chair and co-founder – Prince Manvendra will soon break ground on Hanumanteshwar 1927, a place where all people can come to feel safe.
About the center:
The center will advocate for the social, economic, legal, psychological, spiritual and health aspects of LGBTQA people in Gujarat.
Services will include; weekly social and support meetings, a library, computers, jobs skills training, a music therapy room, conference center, community kitchen, housing and a medical clinic.
‘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,’ Prince Manvendra said.
‘Most of them in India are forced to be in the closet due to stigma and discrimination faced by them on coming out. That’s why it’s important for them to be in a place where they feel safe, secure and accepted.
‘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.’
Prince Manvendra, of course, is the 39th direct descendant of the 650 year old Gohil Dynasty Of Rajpipla in Gujarat State in western India. He is the most likely heir to Maharaja of Rajpipla.
The road to LGBTQ advocacy hasn’t been easy for him though.
He came out in 2006 and was promptly disowned by his family, disinherited, and endured homophobic insults in the media, burnt effigies in the streets, and a slew of death threats as a result. Ultimately though, he says, the tides have turned and his coming out has helped shift attitudes towards towards the LGBTQA community.
‘Since I happen to be the first member of a royal family belonging to a rich cultural heritage to come out openly as gay to the world and my story has inspired the community not only to accept themselves but also so come out to family and by some of them to come out to the public in media,’ he said.
‘My coming out opened the Pandora’s box which led to discussions and debates on issues of homosexuality which though existed in our society since bygone era, but yet there is taboo and nobody speaks about it resulting in developing misconceptions on it.
‘My story has helped change the mind set of the society and brought about mainstream our issues with support from the influential non community members.”
A true prince of a guy.
