Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
from special correspondent

Panaji, Aug 28: Gay marriages in Goa which hitherto lack social acceptance are now getting support from unexpected quarters - respective families.

Two gay marriages held in the state last month with traditional rituals had their family members blessing the couple.

With no legal validity, the marriages were solemnized in Goa but were not registered in the state.

This unexpected support has sprung pleasant surprise for the groups working for gay rights in Goa.

"It's heartening to note that gays are getting acceptance from their families... this is happening for the first time in the state which saw first gay marriage three years back," Vishant Chodankar, trustee, Humsaath Trust, a non-government organization working for gays told mediapersons.

The NGO claims that around 30 gay couples have got married in last couple of years in the state. "A few of them stay together while in some cases the couples had to stay separately without family and social acceptance," Chodankar said.

For the NGOs working for rights of gay community, the events that unfolded in last month were surprising. "We could not imagine that the family members just not only accepted the marriage but personally arranged the ceremonies," Chodankar said, while also refusing to reveal the names of the families.

Both the families are from port town of Vasco and belong to middle-income group, he said.

Humsaath volunteers revealed that both the couples had an affair for seven years.

In one such marriage, a boy underwent sex change operation in Karnataka before marriage. "The couple got married at Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra but could not get their nuptial tie registered in Goa in the absence of legal validity," Chodankar said.

"Around five to six gays have committed suicide for reasons like non-acceptance of their relationship, HIV positive status and thought of being a gay are the few that dragged them to take the drastic step," the Humsaath officials said.

Some NGOs are rendering psychological counselling for gays but the facility does not reach out to many.

"There are instances wherein gays are forced to get married to girls. Their marriage is always on the rocks which results either in separation or suicides," Chodankar said.

The NGO, during its work over the last seven years, has identified 6,000 gays among the 14-lac population in Goa itself.

"We demand that gay marriage be legalized which will remove social stigma for the community. The government cannot ignore this community which has their own human rights," Chodankar said.