In the last one decade, we have achieved much more progress on sexuality rights than at any time since independence.

The Indian judiciary has been extremely supportive of LGBT cause. They have taken a lot of positive steps not just for the LGBT community, but also for other marginalised communities like the HIV positive people. (Earlier in June this year, the Madras High Court banned conversion therapy, a dubious and unethical practice indulged in by some doctors with the promise of converting homosexuals into heterosexuals.)

We are now fighting for same sex marriage rights. The hearing is currently ongoing at the Delhi High Court. There is a great chance that we will win the battle, unless the government goes to the SC for appeal or something like that.

As suggested by the court, we are trying to make our case stronger by enlisting as many petitioners as possible. There are currently three groups of petitioners under three categories: the Hindu Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act and the Foreign Marriage Act.

My own hunch is that same-sex marriage will become a reality in India in a couple of years. In Asia, Taiwan was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.

There is a World Bank study, which clearly mentions that the economic development of countries likes India depend on the human rights it accords to its citizens. LGBT rights are human rights. So denying same-sex marriage rights will reflect badly on a democratic country like India.

I am married to DeAndre Richardson now. My husband works as a skincare therapist in the US. It’s a friendship that got converted into marriage. I introduced him to my family in 2013. We got married in the US, the same year and in India the following year.

Self-acceptance, especially on matters of sexuality, can take a long time. Once you have given yourself an identity, it’s time to come out to others.

(Concludes)

(Manvendra Singh Gohil is the first openly gay prince in the world. In conversation with Sangeeth Sebastian, writer and founder, Vvox, a sextech platform. The series is a part of an AKADialog initiative to capture the lives of newsmakers.)