India’s first openly gay prince says parents wanted him to have ‘conversion brain surgery’

In a brave revelation, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, India’s first openly gay prince and heir of the Maharaja of Rajpipla in Gujarat, has shared his distressing journey. He recounted how his parents attempted to change his sexuality through brain surgery and electroshock therapy after he revealed he was gay. Despite being widely discredited as “medical misconduct” by the nation’s regulators, gay conversion therapy is still being practised by some doctors in India.

Prince Gohil’s parents, tussle with their son’s sexual orientation and sought medical intervention to “convert” him to heterosexuality, a deeply humiliating experience for the prince. They went to the extent of seeking doctors in the United States to perform brain surgery and electroshock therapy, hoping it would change his sexual orientation. However, their efforts failed when American doctors refused to perform such procedures, asserting that homosexuality is not a mental disorder.

Reflecting on his experience, the prince stressed that it was a clear case of discrimination and a violation of human rights. He firmly believes that parents have no right to subject their children to such torture and suffering in the name of “conversion therapy.” Prince Gohil candidly stated that many individuals in India endure similar pain and humiliation due to their parents’ ignorance.

Back in 2006, when he publicly announced his sexual orientation, the prince faced severe backlash, including protests and effigies being burnt in his home state. However, over time, Prince Gohil’s parents have come to accept him for who he is, marking a positive change in their relationship. He attributes this transformation to education and awareness, emphasising that homophobia arises from a lack of understanding and knowledge.

Despite the challenges he has faced, the prince has launched a legal battle at India’s Supreme Court to ban conversion therapy outright. Also, the court is currently considering a bid to legalize gay marriage in the country. Despite the obstacles, Prince Gohil remains optimistic about the outcome of his legal efforts, asserting that the Indian judicial system is increasingly open-minded.

In a remarkable show of support, the prince’s father has gifted him 15 acres of land, with the intent of building an LGBT community centre. This gesture highlights the positive change in their relationship and the prince’s father’s acceptance of his son’s identity.

It is important to note that despite Prince Gohil’s efforts, there are still segments of society that find LGBTQ+ identities difficult to accept, considering them disgusting also it is crucial to respect diverse opinions and viewpoints. Achieving widespread acceptance of LGBTQ+ will indeed take time.