Potoooooooo
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/...5208.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay Voices
In 2006, the Crown Prince of one of India's oldest royal families made a public announcement that made headlines around the world: the 40-year-old formerly married Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was actually gay. This announcement made Prince Manvendra the world's only openly gay prince -- and it also outraged his community and ripped his family apart. His father refused to accept the Prince's homosexuality, and his mother, the Queen, took out an ad in the newspaper to publicly disown her only son. What's more, Prince Manvendra was also risking his own freedom, as homosexual acts in his country were punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
Still, Prince Manvendra remained determined to live in his truth. He opened up about the difficulties he faced during a 2007 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," telling the talk show host what it was like growing up with this secret in an ancient royal family and a country that condemned homosexuality.
"I couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't share my views to anyone. So, I was confused whether I'm the only one like that or are other people like me or was it kind of a disease?" Prince Manvendra said back then. "I thought, 'Maybe it's a passing phase. I might get over it once I'm married.' And that's the reason I decided to get married."
Though the marriage was arranged, Prince Manvendra emphasized that he was never forced to wed a woman. Once the relationship crumbled, he came to terms with his sexuality and began to find happiness in his new mission in life: working on behalf of the gay community in India.
In 2006, the Crown Prince of one of India's oldest royal families made a public announcement that made headlines around the world: the 40-year-old formerly married Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was actually gay. This announcement made Prince Manvendra the world's only openly gay prince -- and it also outraged his community and ripped his family apart. His father refused to accept the Prince's homosexuality, and his mother, the Queen, took out an ad in the newspaper to publicly disown her only son. What's more, Prince Manvendra was also risking his own freedom, as homosexual acts in his country were punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
Still, Prince Manvendra remained determined to live in his truth. He opened up about the difficulties he faced during a 2007 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," telling the talk show host what it was like growing up with this secret in an ancient royal family and a country that condemned homosexuality.
"I couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't share my views to anyone. So, I was confused whether I'm the only one like that or are other people like me or was it kind of a disease?" Prince Manvendra said back then. "I thought, 'Maybe it's a passing phase. I might get over it once I'm married.' And that's the reason I decided to get married."
Though the marriage was arranged, Prince Manvendra emphasized that he was never forced to wed a woman. Once the relationship crumbled, he came to terms with his sexuality and began to find happiness in his new mission in life: working on behalf of the gay community in India.