The people of the LGBT group have been living inside a shell since ages in India. While the country is battling with issues like crime against women, corruption, unemployment, it seems like fight for justice for the LGBT people has taken a back seat.
Earlier this week, the LGBT group was gifted a ray of hope when the Supreme Court declared that it will reconsider its 2013 decision to criminalise gay sex.
In a highly orthodox country like India, the path of coming out of the closet for LGBT section is only donned with difficulties. Giving in to the societal pressure, these people often tend to cover their real selves to have a shot at the normal life like other people. Some people, from time to time, beat the odds and go on to become the social activists for the rights of gay people and one such person is Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, heir apparent to the throne of Rajpipla in western Gujarat state.
Breaking all the norms, Prince Gohil took a decision of coming out to his parents a decade ago and now the openly gay prince is all set to help other LGBT people.
According to reports in Reuters, the 52-year-old prince is building a centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on the grounds of his ancestral palace.
In an interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Gohil said, “People still face a lot of pressure from their families when they come out, being forced to marry, or thrown out of their homes. They often have nowhere to go, no means to support themselves. I am not going to have children, so I thought, why not use this space for a good purpose?”
Apart from offering accommodation to the LGBT group, the center will also have a medical facility and training in English and vocational skills.
Reuters added that the palace, which was built in 1927, is being renovated and solar panels are being installed for power. According to the reports, an online crowd-funding campaign and donations will finance the centre.