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{{Short description|Hereditary Prince of Rajpipla and LGBT activist}}
{{Tone|date=July 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox royalty
| module = {{Infobox royalty
| embed = yes
| name = Manvendra Singh Gohil
| full name = Manvendra Kumar Singh Gohil
| title = Hereditary Prince of Rajpipla
| image = Painting of Manvendra Singh Gohil.JPG
| caption =
| succession =
| reign =
| reign-type = Period
| predecessor =
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|9|23}}
| birth_place = [[Ajmer]], [[Ajmer district]], [[Rajasthan]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Princess Chandrika Kumari of [[Jhabua]]|1991|1992|reason=div}}<br> DeAndre Richardson (m. 2013)
| issue =
| house = [[Gohil dynasty]]
| father = Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji of Rajpipla
| mother = Princess Rukmini Devi, Rajasthan
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| alma_mater =
| signature =
| website =
}}
}}
'''Manvendra Singh Gohil''' (born 23 September 1965) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] prince, being the son and probable heir of the honorary [[Maharaja]] of [[Rajpipla]]. Many consider him to be the first openly [[gay]] prince in the world, and he is known be one of India's foremost [[LGBT]] activists.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=Pride and Prejudice: Indian royal Manvendra Singh Gohil on being the world’s first openly gay prince |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/prince-manvendra-singh-gohil-gay-indian-royal-interview |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Tatler |language=en-GB}}</ref> He runs a charity, the Lakshya Trust, which works with the [[LGBT]] community.

== Biography ==
He was born in [[Ajmer]], the only son of Maharana Shri Raghubir Singhji Rajendrasinghji Sahib, Maharana of Rajpipla, and his wife, Maharani Rukmini Devi. He has one sister, Minaxi Kumari, who married into the princely family of [[Chenani]] in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].

In 1971, the government of India "de-recognized" the Indian princes, and Manvendra's father lost the official title of Maharaja and the [[Privy Purse in India|privy purse]] (an annual pension) that came with it. The princes adjusted to the new socialist regime; the Rajpipla royals converted their family seat, the Rajvant Palace in Rajpipla, into a tourist resort and location for film-shooting. They also set up a second residence in [[Mumbai]]. He was educated at [[Bombay Scottish School]] and at the Amrutben Jivanlal College of Commerce and Economics (one of the institutions in the [[Mithibai College]] campus in [[Vile Parle]], [[Mumbai]]).{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

His parents entered him into an [[arranged marriage]], and in January 1991, he wed Chandrika Kumari, a princess of [[Jhabua State]] in [[Madhya Pradesh]]. Manvendra says about his marriage:
::"I thought that after marriage everything will be all right, that with a wife, I will have children and become "normal" and then I will be at peace. I was struggling and striving to be "normal." I never knew and nobody told me that I was gay and [that] this itself is normal and it will not change. That this is what is called homosexuality and it is not a disease. I tremendously regret for ruining (Chandrika's) life. I feel guilty, but I simply did not know better."<ref name="rediff.com">[http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/26look1.htm India's gay prince appears on Oprah show]. Rediff.com (31 December 2004). Retrieved on 20 August 2012.</ref>

The marriage remained unconsummated. He says, "It was a total disaster. A total failure. The marriage never got consummated. I realized I had done something very wrong. Now two people were suffering instead of one. Far from becoming normal, my life was more miserable."<ref>[http://www2.oprah.com/world/politics/slide/20071024/politics_284_102.jhtml Oprah Winfrey's Official Website – Live Your Best Life]. Oprah.com (24 October 2007). Retrieved on 20 August 2012.</ref>

His wife filed for divorce after just over a year of marriage. Although further requests for marriage were received, he declined them. He suffered a [[nervous breakdown]] in 2002.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} He says:

{{cquote|It was difficult to be gay in my family. The villagers worship us and we are role models for them. My family didn't allow us to mix with ordinary or low-caste people. Our exposure to the liberal world was minimal. Only when I was hospitalized after my nervous breakdown in 2002 did my doctor inform my parents about my sexuality. All these years I was hiding my sexuality from my parents, family and people. I never liked it and I wanted to face the reality. When I came out in the open and gave an interview to a friendly journalist, my life was transformed. Now, people accept me.<ref name="rediff.com"/>}}

Upon being informed by psychiatrists that their son was gay, Manvendra's parents accepted the truth, but stipulated that this matter should not be revealed to anyone else. He left Mumbai and began living full-time with his parents in the small town of Rajpipla.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

In 2005, Chirantana Bhatt, a young journalist from [[Vadodara]] approached Manvendra. He confided his [[sexual orientation]] and the mental stress he was going through as a closeted gay man to the journalist. On 14 March 2006, the story of his [[coming out]] made headlines. The "coming out" story was first published in the [[Vadodara]] edition of ''Divya Bhaskar'', a regional [[Gujarati language]] daily of the Bhaskar media group. It was covered the next day in all other editions of Bhaskar groups language newspapers like ''Dainik Bhaskar'' ([[Hindi language]]) and ''Daily News Analysis'' (DNA), an English newspaper. Soon the news appeared in other English and vernacular newspapers across the country, and became a story that they followed up in their gossip and society pages for several weeks afterward.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} The people of Rajpipla were shocked: Manvendra was [[Burn in effigy|burnt in effigy]] and publicly jeered and heckled. His family accused him of bringing [[Honour|dishonor]] and disowned him soon after.<ref name="restored">{{cite web|url=http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/100707india.htm |title=Hundreds Celebrate Gay Prince's Birthday |date=7 October 2007 |accessdate=29 October 2007 |work=[[365Gay.com]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011001515/http://365gay.com/Newscon07/10/100707india.htm |archivedate=11 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|last=Chu |first=Henry |title=Prince is out, but not down |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-prince2jan02,0,1414556.story?coll=la-home-headlines |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223011427/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-prince2jan02%2C0%2C1414556.story?coll=la-home-headlines |archivedate=23 February 2007 }}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00776vc |title=Manvendra Singh Gohil: The Gay Prince of Rajpipla |website=BBC Radio 4 - Crossing Continents |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

He appeared as a guest on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' on 24 October 2007. He was one of three persons featured in the show entitled 'Gay Around the World'.
{{cquote|I knew that they would never accept me for who I truly am, but I also knew that I could no longer live a lie. I wanted to come out because I had gotten involved with activism and I felt it was no longer right to live in the closet. I came out as gay to a Gujarati daily because I wanted people to openly discuss homosexuality since it's a hidden affair with a lot of stigma attached.<ref>[http://www.sheetudeep.com/blog/lifestyle/gay-prince-manvendra-gohil-to-appear-on-oprah-winfrey-show/ Gay Prince Manvendra Gohil to Appear on Oprah Winfrey Show]. Sheetudeep.com (14 October 2007). Retrieved on 20 August 2012.</ref>}}{{unreliable source?|date=December 2021}}

He inaugurated the [[Euro Pride]] gay festival in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]], on 25 July 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salam |first1=Maya |title=Your 2020 Virtual Pride Guide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/gay-pride-2020-events-online.html |work=The New York Times |date=24 June 2020}}</ref>

He featured in a [[BBC Television]] series, ''[[Undercover Princes]]'', screened on [[BBC Three]] in the UK in January 2009 which documented his search for a British boyfriend in [[Brighton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Gujarat_gay_prince_seeks_love_through_BBC_series/rssarticleshow/3982788.cms |title=Gujarat gay prince seeks love through BBC series |website=Times of India |date=15 January 2009 |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

Since July 2010, he has served as editor of the gay male-centric print magazine ''Fun'',<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.sify.com/news/gay-magazines-in-india-hint-at-quiet-revolution-news-international-lbsiEcaedgh.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110119171130/http://www.sify.com/news/gay-magazines-in-india-hint-at-quiet-revolution-news-international-lbsiEcaedgh.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 19 January 2011|title = Gay magazines in India hint at quiet revolution|author = Ammu Kannampilly|publisher = AFP, via Sify|date = 18 January 2011}}</ref> which is published in Rajpipla.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Latest-from-Manavendra-Indias-1st-gay-mag/articleshow/6206997.cms7|title = Latest from Manavendra: India's 1st gay mag|author = Yogesh Prateek|publisher = Times of India|date = 23 July 2010}}</ref>
In July 2013, Manvendra married an American man named Cecil "DeAndre" Richardson (né Hilton), a Macy's cosmetics employee for Origins, hailing from Albany, Oregon, and living in Seattle.<ref name="ToF">{{cite news |last1=Das |first1=Soumitra |title=We are optimistic that a better future awaits same-sex couples in India: Manvendra Singh Gohil and DeAndre Richardson |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/we-are-optimistic-that-a-better-future-awaits-same-sex-couples-in-india-manvendra-singh-gohil-and-deandre-richardson/articleshow/81115944.cms |access-date=25 December 2021 |agency=Times of India |publisher=Entertainment Times |date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="NYT"/>

In January 2021, the false news of him, along with 50 members of the transgender community, joining the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] was circulated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/prince-of-rajpipla-joins-bjp-with-50-transgenders/articleshow/80489219.cms|title=Prince of Rajapipla joins BJP with 50 transgenders|website=Ahmedabad Mirror}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://react.etvbharat.com/english/national/state/gujarat/i-have-not-joined-bjp-i-never-will-prince-manvendra-singh-takes-u-turn/na20210131223303048|title=Gay Prince says "I have not joined BJP, I never will."|website=etv bharat}}</ref>

==Charitable activities==
In 2000, he started the Lakshya Trust, of which he is chairman, a group dedicated to [[HIV/AIDS]] education and prevention.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last1=Bhagat |first1=Shalini Venugopal |title=In India, a Gay Prince's Coming Out Earns Accolades, and Enemies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/world/asia/india-prince-manvendra-gay-rights.html |access-date=25 December 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=31 July 2020}}</ref> A registered public charitable trust, Lakshya is a community-based organisation working for HIV/AIDS prevention among [[men who have sex with men]] (MSMs). It provides counselling services, clinics for treatment of [[sexually transmitted infections]], [[libraries]], and [[condom]]-use promotion. The trust also trains female field workers who educate women married to [[Men who have sex with men|MSM]] about [[safe sex]] practices.<ref name="bbc" /> Lakshya won the Civil Society Award 2006 for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among [[homosexual men]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/07prince.htm |title=Gay prince to form sexual minorities forum |website=Rediff India Abroad |date=7 December 2006 |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

The trust also creates employment opportunities for gay men and support for other organisations for MSMs, and plans to open a hospice/old age home for gay men.

Lakshya is a member of the [[India Network For Sexual Minorities]] (INFOSEM) and a founding member of the [[Sexual Health Action Network]] (SHAN).

In 2007, Manvendra joined the Interim Governing Board of the [[Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health]], known as APCOM, a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organisations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. He serves as India Community Representative on behalf of INFOSEM, the India MSM and HIV network. Manvendra said of this work, "APCOM is one of the best mediums to bring together different nationalities and develop linkages with others working for HIV and MSM/TG. In India, it will be an important tool to influence authorities to change thinking and broaden outlooks for the betterment of society. APCOM demonstrates the essence of unity and solidarity within diversity."<ref>[http://www.msmasia.org/ APCOM – Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605071619/http://www.msmasia.org/ |date=5 June 2019 }}. Msmasia.org. Retrieved on 20 August 2012.</ref>

In January 2008, while performing an annual ceremony in Rajpipla in honour of his great-grandfather Maharaja Vijaysinhji, Manvendra Gohil announced plans to [[same-sex adoption|adopt a child]], saying: "I have carried out all my responsibilities as the prince so far and will continue as long as I can. I will also adopt a child soon so that all traditions continue".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Gujarats_gay_prince_to_adopt_child_soon/articleshow/2744807.cms | work=The Times of India | first1=Yogesh | last1=Pareek | title=Gujarat's gay prince to adopt child soon | date=31 January 2008}}</ref> If the adoption proceeds, it will be the first known case of a single [[gay adoption|gay man adopting a child]] in India.

In 2018, Manvendra opened up his 15-acre palace grounds to help house vulnerable LGBTQIA+ people who might otherwise be "left with nothing" when "their families disown them after coming out".<ref>{{cite news|title=India's gay prince opens palace to the LGBT community|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/prince-manvendra-singh-gohil-palace-lgbt-people-a8146491.html|accessdate=7 January 2018|work=The Independent|date=7 January 2018}}</ref>

==In popular culture==

Manvendra Singh Gohil appeared as a guest in three episodes of ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', as part of the segment called ''Gays Around the World'' in 2011, he appeared twice again in 2014 and 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oprah.com/own-where-are-they-now/the-first-openly-gay-prince-fights-for-equal-rights-in-india-video |title=The World's First Openly Gay Prince Fights for Equal Rights in India |date=9 May 2021 |website=OWN |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/people/story/how-indias-first-openly-gay-prince-came-out-met-oprah-and-now-fights-for-the-gay-community-in-india-313208-2016-03-14 |last=Dixit |first=Mini |title=How India's First Openly Gay Prince Came Out, met Oprah, and Now Fights for the LGBTQIA+ Community |date=14 March 2016 |website=India Today |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

In 2017, he was a special guest in an episode of ''[[Keeping Up with the Kardashians]]'' titled "India’s first openly gay prince, Manvendra Singh Gohil".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/tv/the-kardashian-sisters-invited-india-s-first-openly-gay-prince-for-dinner-and-here-s-what-happened/story-l2mgElf07QTRrr1DkgkhJL.html |title=The Kardashian sisters invited India's first openly gay prince over, and here's what happened |date=30 June 2017 |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

Manvendra was also featured in [[Cheryl Allison]]'s 2021 documentary ''Pieces of Us'', which profiles people who have experienced anti-LGBTQ hate.<ref name="Advocate">{{cite magazine|last=Ring|first=Trudy|date=14 July 2021|title=New Doc Pieces of Us Honors Resilience of Those Who've Survived Hate|url=https://www.advocate.com/film/2021/7/14/new-doc-pieces-us-honors-resilience-those-whove-survived-hate|magazine=Advocate|location=|publisher=|access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lakshya-trust.org/ Website of the Lakshya Trust]
* [http://www.msmasia.org/ Website of the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605071619/http://www.msmasia.org/ |date=5 June 2019 }}
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Gujarats_gay_prince_to_adopt_child_soon/articleshow/2744807.cms Gujarat's Gay Prince to Adopt a Child]
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/26look1.htm Gay Prince appears on Oprah Show]
* [http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/07prince.htm Gay Prince to form Sexual Minorities Forum]
* [http://www.sheetudeep.com/blog/lifestyle/gay-prince-manvendra-gohil-to-appear-on-oprah-winfrey-show/ Gay Prince to Appear on Oprah Winfrey Show]
* [http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-the-prince-comes-out-of-closet-1018219 The coming out interview in Divya Bhaskar's English newspaper DNA by Chirantana Bhatt, 16 March 2006 (Gujarati was published prior to this)]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gohil, Manavendra Singh}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Gohils]]
[[Category:LGBT royalty]]
[[Category:Indian LGBT rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian gay men]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Ajmer]]
[[Category:People from Narmada district]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:Indian LGBT politicians]]

Manvendra Singh Gohil - Revision history

Bot at 20:46, 22 February 2023