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The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise the issue of violation of the journalist's human rights.
Digital Desk: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) India has taken the suo motu cognizance of
India's first openly gay prince and a prominent LGBT activist, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, recently disclosed the distressing experiences he...
Digital Desk: India's first openly gay prince and a prominent LGBT activist, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, recently disclosed the distressing experiences he faced when his parents sought medical interventions to change his sexuality. Speaking to SkyNews in an interview, Gohil, the heir of the Maharaja of Rajpipla in Gujarat, shared the extreme measures his parents took to try and "convert" him when he came out as gay.
"It was an absolute case of discrimination and violation of human rights. Whether I'm a prince or not, parents have no right to put their children through [this] kind of torture," said Gohil, emphasizing the gravity of his parents' actions.
According to the prince, his parents pursued medical professionals in the hope that they could perform brain surgery and electroshock therapy to change his sexual orientation. Shockingly, they intended to carry out these interventions in the United States, despite conversion therapy being widely discredited there.
Fortunately, the American Psychiatric Association's stance, affirming that homosexuality is not a mental disorder, acted as a safeguard against these harrowing procedures. This professional stance thwarted Gohil's parents' attempts, sparing him from enduring such harmful practices.
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"I was fortunate enough that the American Psychiatric Association had said that homosexuality is not a mental disorder, so they were not successful," Gohil stated, acknowledging the critical role played by medical authorities in safeguarding the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Nevertheless, despite avoiding the physical consequences of conversion therapy, the prince shared that he suffered significant emotional distress due to the "embarrassment" and "humiliation" caused by his parents' futile efforts to change his sexual orientation.
"It didn't happen, but imagine how much harassment one has to go through, how much humiliation one has to endure, just to endure this pain and suffering at the hands of parents - and this is happening to so many individuals in India," Gohil revealed, shedding light on the plight faced by countless LGBTQ+ individuals across the nation.
In response to his own traumatic experiences and the realization of the widespread suffering faced by others, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil has taken up the cause to fight against conversion therapy. He has initiated a legal battle at the Supreme Court of India to seek an outright ban on conversion therapy through the law.
Prince Manvendra Gohil's journey as an LGBTQ+ activist began in 2006, when he bravely declared his sexual orientation to the world. Since then, he has become the founder of the Lakysha Trust, a distinguished LGBTQ+ charity operating in the Indian state of Gujarat. His advocacy has reached global platforms, including appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
His remarkable resilience, courage, and determination to bring about change have garnered widespread support and admiration from the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike. By shedding light on the traumatic practice of conversion therapy, Prince Gohil continues to be a driving force behind the movement to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
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