Gay prince of Rajpipla demands abrogation of IPC section 377

Vadodara, Nov 21 (UNI) Noted gay activist Manavendra Singh Gohil, a scion of the erstwhile Rajpipla royal family, has renewed his demand for immediate abrogation of section 377 of the IPC that prohibits homosexuality in India.

Welcoming a recent order of the Supreme Court of Nepal for formulation of laws to guarantee full rights to homosexuals, including gay marriage, in their country, Manavendra said now it was high time for the government of India to scrap the relevant section in order to safeguard the rights of the gays.

Young Manavendra, the only son of the much respected royal family of Rajpipla in South Gujarat, was disowned by his parents a couple of years ago, after he publicly revealed that he is a gay. But the issue was later sorted out with the gay prince remaining firm on his stand to fight for the cause of the gay community, including HIV prevention, through ''Lakshya Trust'', an NGO run by him.

Stating that their movement in India had received a shot in the arm following the Nepal apex court's direction to the newly elected Maoist government on the gay issue, he said the pro-gay act in the neighbouring country would now help gays in India to easily get married in Nepal.

Manavendra, who has emerged as a champion of gay rights in India by undertaking several programmes across the country and outside to highlight the gays' plight, is planning to pay a visit to Nepal for a dialogue with their gay activist Sunil Panta, who had moved a petition in the Supreme Court seeking justice for the gays.

UNI SS SR SW GC1750