Support Prince Manvendra In His Efforts To Give A Better Life For The LGBTQIA+ Community

The life of a transgender isn’t easy. Unfortunately, discrimination, ostracization and humiliation is a norm for them. They are at the receiving end of so much suffering. More often than not, they are forced to leave their home and their families cut contact with them forever. They’re hardly left with a lot of options - so many of them are forced to end their lives. 

A welcome initiative

Keeping in mind the plight of the trans community, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, e-launched a ‘National Portal for Transgender Persons’ and e-inaugurated a ‘Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’ in Vadodara, Gujarat in November, 2020.  A first of its kind, this shelter home is a pilot project and the Indian government wants to make many such shelter homes.  

The shelter home for the transgenders will be run in association with Lakshya Trust,  a community based organization registered as a public charitable trust that has been the centre of excellence in the field of s*xual health programme for the  trans community since its inception in 2000. 

The purpose of the shelter home is to provide shelter to transgender persons, with basic amenities like food, medical care and recreational facilities. Besides, it will provide support for the capacity-building/skill development of persons in the community, which will enable them to lead a life of dignity and respect. 

Lakshya Trust wants to provide a safe home to the transgender of Gujarat 

The founding member of Lakshya Trust is Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, the world’s first openly gay prince. Born to the Maharana and Maharani of Rajpipla, Gujarat, the Prince came out of the closet in 2002. Since then, he has been estranged from his family. But that hasn’t stopped him from working closely with the LGBTQ+ community.  

The organization works on various issues addressing and advocating the social, economic, legal, psychological, spiritual and health aspects of s*xual minorities (Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population) in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Their primary focus is on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among MSM (men having s*x with men) and GBT(gay, bisexual and transgender) in three major cities of Gujarat State of India(Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot). Lakshya Trust wants to provide groceries to a population over 10,000 transgenders in Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat with groceries. The pandemic has left them starving with no income at all. 

“As rightfully identified by the government, providing a shelter home for the trans community is the need of the hour. So many of them are spurned from their family and often are in no condition to take care of themselves. They have no job opportunities nor do they have any emotional support. This is exactly what we want to help them with. We want to be the wind under their wings and give them support when they need it the most,” - Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil. 

How can you help 

Despite getting a lot of help from the government, there is still so much that Prince Manvendra wants to do through Lakshya Trust. They are planning to set up a home for the trans community and hence require water coolers, home inverters, fans, furniture, groceries etc. You can come forward and help Lakshya Trust build a safe haven for the trans community.  

“Any amount of help will make a huge difference. I have known the feeling of being abandoned by your own and needless to say it’s the worst feeling ever. With your timely help, we will be able to fill so many lives with hope and happiness. Everyone deserves a chance….” 

Note: All the donations  towards this campaign is eligible for Indian Tax Exemption.