An NRI has established India’s first avenue where gays can find their soulmate.
The Supreme Court’s decision to criminalize homosexuality has not deferred India to have its first marriage bureau for homosexuals.
An NRI has established India’s first avenue where gays can find their soulmate. The bureau will help them find the right match, both within and outside the country.
Benhur Samson, started the arranged gay marriage service when he received numerous requests from gays regarding prospective life partners. Till 2013, he used to help gays with surrogacy.
The gay prince of Rajpipla, Manvendrasingh Gohil has agreed to be on board as a consultant. For India’s first openly gay prince too the journey was anything but easy, it took him time to battle out the confusion and accept his sexuality. “I might be the first member of the royal family to come out, but I’m not the only one,” the prince said while revealing his story.
Samson has hired lawyers as well to look into the legal aspects of the marriages. The immigration aspect will also be taken into consideration so that if an Indian marries a person abroad, no complications are faced.
“Several people wanting an arranged marriage were looking for partners from India. The reason seems to that arranged marriages are common in India. Also, Indians are known for their commitment, their loyalty to partners and hard-working nature,” said Samson reported TOI.
The marriage bureau is operational since three months now and it has already received 250 inquiries. The members of the bureau have to undergo counselling under experts and are charged $5,000. However, the money is refundable if the person does not find a match.
According to figures submitted by the government to the Supreme Court in 2012, there are 25 lakh gay people in India.
Now, a marriage bureau to cater them does not seem like a bad idea at all.
by Sanjana Agnihotri
Source – India Today
