Section 377 decriminalises: Sweet reward for 20 years of struggle

VADODARA: At a time when mentioning that one was gay even in one’s closed circles raised eyebrows, there were some who took up the causes of gay men in the city. The city was home to the first ever organisation formally working for the issues of gay persons in the state.
It was in 2000 when the Lakshya Trust formed by gay prince from Rajpipla Manvendra Singh Gohil and a couple of like-minded persons came up in the city and those who started it still remember the tough times they went through. From threats to bad publicity, these activists faced everything to see the red-letter day for the community on Thursday.

“I still remember when we were looking to hire people for the community, we were questioned. People asked us how could we even employ somebody for such activity? I was even threatened on a few occasions and even an article in red fonts was written against me. We have come a long way since then. This verdict was much awaited. Der aaye, durust aaye,” said trustee Sylvester Merchant.

Merchant remembers how he could stitch together a team of three persons under him. “But we were still sceptical. And then there was a raid at the office of Naz Foundation International in Lucknow. We wondered if we would face a similar situation,” he said. Merchant added that they had even prepared themselves to go to prison if the need be.

When it kicked off, Lakshya Trust was amongst less than 10 organisations in the country that were working for the LGBTQ community. Today the trust has around 75 full-time and 100 part-time employees.

Hanif Nakum, who was amongst the first three persons employed by the trust, says that when they began working even people from the gay community were not willing to join them. It was difficult to convince them initially, but people started coming forward after a series of counselling sessions.

“I was lucky as my family knew about me and supported me. You cannot severe a body part due to illness. I am very happy with the verdict. We have rights like other people to live our own lives,” Nakum said.