Manvendra Singh Gohil chose to live a life that defied both tradition and expectation. The prince of the erstwhile Rajpipla royal family and one of India’s most prominent LGBTQ rights activists, Manvendra’s journey has been shaped by courage and conviction rather than comfort. When he came out publicly about his sexual orientation in 2006, he faced fierce protests, outrage and exclusion. Nearly two decades later, he stands in a very different place—calmer, stronger, and determined to create awareness, advocacy and a safe space for the LGBTQ community.
He first appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, a popular American talk show, in 2007, where he spoke about the importance of recognising LGBTQ+ rights. Looking back, he says, “Oprah’s show made a lot of difference, as she is a global personality. Her presence and her being a strong ally definitely opened doors. It did help a lot in changing people’s mindsets, and I also got many invitations to participate in events in different countries.”
Gohil, who turned 60 in 2025, has now created the Manvendra Foundation to carry forward his ground-breaking work on issues involving inclusion and embracing diversity. Explaining the need, he says, “Turning 60 in 2025 made me reflective. I was planning to be more inclusive as I grew older. Inclusivity has given me acceptance. It is about embracing different communities. The majority of Rajpipla’s population comes from tribal communities, and I have been working for their empowerment. Similarly, I have also been working for the welfare of the African Siddi community in Gujarat.”
Manvendra has been doing pioneering work for the LGBTQ community for years through his Lakshya Trust. He is also the co-founder of Search Ends Inclusion Impact, along with Siddharth Ayare and Chandrika Ayare. The initiative focuses on inclusion and equity, DEI sensitisation, leadership awareness, and building inclusive organisational cultures through lived-experience–led interventions.
Talking about the philosophy behind starting the Manvendra Foundation, he says, “I want the good work to continue even after I am gone. That’s why I started the Manvendra Foundation. The foundation is centred on the needs of the LGBTQ community, persons living with disabilities, women and war veterans. I decided to work equally for these four pillars, with a focus on intersectionality.
“This quest for inclusivity has worked for me earlier, and I wanted to take it forward. For example, how many organisations in India today have provisions for sanitary pads at the workplace for women professionals? This may seem like a simple thing, but during our interactions, we found that not many organisations have this provision.”
Gohil is a strong believer in building allies. He feels that for same-sex marriage laws to become a reality in India, the LGBTQ community needs allies.
For him, allies are individuals who are not part of the LGBTQ+ community. They are people who are willing not only to accept but also to openly stand with the community, lend support and advocate for its rights. “Without allies, it is going to be a tough battle. We need the support of political leaders, spiritual leaders, educational institutions and thought leaders,” he says.
Despite the struggles and hardships faced by the LGBTQ community, Gohil remains hopeful about the future. He says, “To be fair, during my long journey of activism, I have realised that we can’t blame people; we can only blame ignorance. Once we create awareness and engage with people on issues faced by LGBTQ community members, I see a ray of light.
“I am now working with the education ministry on textbooks. I have been giving talks at schools across the country. I have been privileged to see openness among young students and their parents, and that makes me hopeful.”
Amid the constant process of creating awareness and fighting for justice, there have been developments that have brought joy to the LGBTQ community. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India introduced new guidelines that were welcomed by the community. Same-sex partners can now open joint bank accounts and nominate their partners. However, there is still a need to fight for inheritance rights.
Manvendra is also a strong advocate of the pink economy and pink tourism. He says, “If India creates a safe environment for pink tourism, we can earn significant foreign exchange. With its diverse landscape, palaces and heritage monuments, India has the potential to emerge as a pink tourism destination—but we need a safe and inclusive environment for it to succeed.”
What advice would he give to young members of the queer community? “Acceptance is the key. Only with self-acceptance can one move forward and live a life of dignity. At the same time, one must remember that if you choose to come out, you need to be socially and economically independent. You need to build your own ecosystem.”
Even as he focuses on improving the lives of diverse communities and building an old-age home, he is in a happy personal space. Talking about his 12-year marriage to Duke DeAndre Richardson, he says, “I have always wanted a life companion. I believe the soul has no gender. Duke is American, and our relationship is built on the solid foundation of friendship. He is my best friend. We try to be together as much as possible. He can live in India for six months at a stretch. Marriage gives me a wonderful way to share and care. Just the thought of having somebody is beautiful and reassuring.”
Deepika Sahu has been a journalist for 29 years and she has worked with some of India’s leading media houses. Right now, she is independently engaged in content creation and curation. Twitter: @menondeepika | Instagram@moodydeepika | Facebook: Deepika Sahu
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