🚨 Content Warning: This episode discusses conversion therapy and anti-LGBTQ+ practices. Listener discretion is advised.
In this episode of Queer Story Time, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil and HH Prince DeAndre, Duke of Hanumanteshwar, share their personal journeys as passionate advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.
They discuss their struggles with conversion therapy, the fight for marriage equality in India, and the creation of an LGBTQ+ community campus to support and empower our community. They both offer powerful insights into the harm of conversion practices and emphasize the need for change in both medical and legal systems.
They also highlight the ongoing progress in understanding gender and sexuality, and how their work through retreats, activism, and community-building helps queer and trans youth find their voice and power.
Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, the Crown Prince of Rajpipla, hails from the 650-year-old Gohil Dynasty and made history as the first Indian royal to publicly come out as gay. A global icon in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, Prince Manvendra is the chairperson and co-founder of Lakshya Trust, which serves to empower the LGBTQ+ community in India.
He has been featured on platforms such as Oprah Winfrey and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. A passionate advocate for HIV awareness, he serves as the Brand Ambassador for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation India Cares. Currently, Prince Manvendra is spearheading the development of an LGBTQIA+ community campus in India, a revolutionary project aimed at social and financial empowerment for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Joining him is HH Prince DeAndre, the Duke of Hanumanteshwar. An esteemed author and LGBTQ+ activist, Prince DeAndre is the Creative Director of H1927LLC, blending fashion with philanthropy through the "Fashion for a Cause" initiative.
He co-authored the memoir A Royal Commitment: Ten Years of Marriage and Activism with Prince Manvendra, documenting their powerful journey of love and advocacy. Prince DeAndre's leadership in wellness is evident through his exclusive retreats, which merge yoga, cultural experiences, and direct engagement with royalty.
His personal story of resilience, especially as he navigates life with Spondyloarthritis and hidden disabilities, serves as an inspiring reminder of the strength found in transformation and activism.
Together, Prince Manvendra and Prince DeAndre continue to break boundaries and advocate for equality, sharing their insights and experiences in this inspiring episode.
Key Topics Covered:
• The lasting impacts of conversion therapy and the ongoing fight for marriage equality in India
• Advocacy work and the creation of an LGBTQ+ community campus in India
• Stories of strength, resilience, and the importance of living authentically
• How societal pressures and religious beliefs influence family dynamics and harm LGBTQ+ individuals
• The role of spiritual practices like yoga in healing and self-discovery for the LGBTQ+ community
• The intersection of personal and political journeys: fighting for rights while living authentically
• Activism in both the U.S. and India, and how the two worlds intersect
Special Mentions:
A new line of gender-fluid swimsuits and underwear
Upcoming yoga retreats and spiritual gatherings that focus on queer wellness
The importance of listening to queer and trans elders for wisdom and guidance
Guest Info: Our guests include activists and creators of significant change within the LGBTQ+ community. Stay connected with them on social media:
Instagram:
@princemanvendragohil
@duke.hanumanteshwar
@haumanteshwar1927tm
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Host: Stevie Inghram, M.S., YT, AWC, NMS-4 (She/They)
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