Prince
Manvendra Singh Gohil (born 23 September 1965)
Manvendra was born at Ajmer, 23 September 1965, as the son of Maharana
Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, who inherited the title
of Maharana of Rajpipla in 1963. The princes were derecognized by
the Republic of India in 1971. Therefore their residence Rajvant
Palace has been converted into a resort (Several Royal Palaces have
been converted into Resorts, Universities and Government buildings
after the derecognition by the Republic of India). Manvendra had
a traditional and conservative upbringing. He was educated at Bombay
Scottish School and at Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and
Economics, Vile Parle, Bombay.
In January 1991,
he got married because, he claims, "I thought after marriage
I would be alright because I never knew and nobody told me that
I was gay and this is normal. Homosexuality is not a disease. I
tremendously regret for ruining her life. I feel guilty". The
marriage ended in divorce when Manvendra revealed his homosexuality
to his wife."It was a total disaster. A total failure. The
marriage never got consummated. I realized I had done something
very wrong".
Several years
after his divorce in 1992, he became involved in a social network
to help gays in Gujarat. "It was difficult to be gay in my
family. The villagers worship us and we are role models for them.
My family didn't allow us to mix with ordinary or low-caste people.
Our exposure to the liberal world was minimal. Only when I was hospitalized
after my nervous breakdown in 2002, my doctor informed my parents
about my sexuality. However, it was when he talked publicly about
is sexual orientation in 2006 that his family took action and accused
him of bringing dishonour to the clan. The disowning, however, is
likely to remain a symbolic act rather than legally enforceable
disinheritance, given India's modern inheritance laws. He has been
reunited with his father.
In June of 2009,
invited by Douglas Drumond, President of Casarão Brasil, a GLS Association,
Manvendra went to one of the world’s biggest parties: São Paulo
gay pride parade. He was one of the main speakers along with ministers
and other officials of various governments around the world. He
used his presence at the largest gay pride parade to advocate safe
sex and create awareness about HIV and AIDS. He was also interested
in the programmes being implemented in Brazil to fight diseases
like AIDS. He also participated in a group discussion on making
homosexuality legal in India by studying the norms that helped in
making homosexuality legal in Brazil.
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