Indian sprinter Dutee Chand said she was dissaponted by the Supreme Court on Tuesday refusing to legalise same-sex marriages in India.
“I plan to marry my partner Monalisa. But the decision of the apex court has upset all plans. I have been living with Monalisa for five years. We are happy together and as adults, we have every right to make our own decisions. We hope Parliament passes a law allowing same-sex marriages,” Dutee was quoted as saying by TOI.
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Dutee became the first openly gay Indian athlete back in May 2019. She also faced a barrage of criticism from her family after she announced she was in a same-sex relationship.
In 2021, Dutee participated in the Queen’s Baton in Birmingham and took the opportunity to shed light on homophobia in Commonwealth countries. Dutee sent a powerful message against homophobia as she held an LGBTQIA+ flag at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Dutee won a landmark ‘gender’ case against the IAAF in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports in 2015 and she was allowed to compete after being suspended for one year.
The CAS suspended the IAAF’s policy on hyperandrogenism for two years. Later the world body changed the policy, which is now applicable only for female athletes competing in the range of 400m to 1500m, leaving out Dutee, who competes in 100m and 200m, from its ambit.
Dutee has been in realtion with Monalisa for some years now, and the pair had also featured on the cover of Odia magazine, Kadambini. Monalisa first met Dutee during a Khudurkuni puja in her village and the couple will move in together after she completes her BA degeree.
Dutee’s family, who have been opposed to her relationship, welcomed the Sumpreme Court verdict.
(With inputs from Agencies)