Lesbian Couple Married In Traditional Indian Style, Kudos To Parents

LGBTQ wedding gives all the jitters before giving happy vibes. The stigma is attached to it. Think of an Indian LGBTQ wedding ceremony. They are noise-making and gutsy. Recently, an LGBTQ Indian couple married in the presence of their parents and spread the message of love.

Isn't it amazing to have such weddings solemnised in the presence of parents, which once was Taboo? Celebrating such beautiful weddings without any apprehensions can be a feel-good moment. It symbolizes acceptance. It is heartening to see parents leading from the front, hosting and celebrating such same-sex unions.

Lesbian Marriage In Brahmin Style With Parent's Consent

Tamil Brahmin woman Subiksha Subramani got married to Bengali woman Tina Das on 31st August in Chennai. Subramani and Das met through an app six years ago in Calgary, Canada. Both their parents did not know about the LGBTQI+ community. The families consented to the wedding after attending professional counselling sessions to change their mental attitudes.

Subramani pointed out that just as we wished, our parents stood by us and conducted all rituals of a traditional Brahmin wedding with all the rituals as per our respective customs, and this is what is fulfillment, in a report. 

Society requires more such parents, who are willing to take one step forward and understand their children. Few groups in India come together as LGBTQ parents community to speak and stand for their children. For Instance- Sweekar, the Rainbow Parents’ group is formed by the parents of Indian LGBTQ+ children to support in accepting one’s child fully. More such initiatives must be established to create positivity around the LGBTQ community. 

Subramani-Das Love Story

Subramani, a chartered accountant, was from Madurai, whilst Das was from northeastern Bangladesh. They married after six years of waiting, only after persuading their loved ones and overcoming family and family stigma, which is still prevalent in the Indian Diaspora. Tina has her fair share of struggles. She had a heterogenous married at a young age but walked out of the relationship after four years.

Suggested Reading - Bollywood Is Reworking Its Portrayal Of LGBTQ+, But Is That Enough?

Same-Sex Marriages 

Similar to Subramani-Das, Anjali Chakra, an event planner, and Sufi Malik, an artist, and teacher connected online seven years before they became a couple. Even they had tied the knot in a full -fledge wedding. Aveena and Alissa’s favorite moment was when their officiant pronounced them married. For them, it was beautiful to feel that fight was over and now celebrate the new family with joy. Aveena describes it as a moment of resolve following all the oppression she felt growing up as an LGBTQ+ person in a conservative community. As the judgment and homophobia from people in our lives only intensified leading up to our wedding.

Katherine and Swati first met at UC Davis where they were both completing their residency in family medicine. They started dating after two years of meeting. Another such lesbian couple doing love proud is Bianca Maieli, a Colombian-Indian Christian, and her bride, Pakistani Muslim Saima. To trace other same-sex marriages, Alicia and Pavithra tied the knot in Utah in July. Deepa and Gauri married in April, this year. 

All these weddings celebrated love for love, and not something that society asked for. These weddings were the emblem of acceptance, freedom, courage, and one hundred percent love from parents. The white décor and red flowers transmit love and good vibes. 

Priest too participating

Another interesting part of Subramani-Das' wedding was the priest. Sanskrit scholar and professor, Saurabh Bondre officiated the wedding of das and Subramani. Vedic scholar remarked in a report, "This is the fourth LGBT wedding I am conducting. However, this is unique as the family of both the girls were present and blessed the occasion, which is not the case generally." Further added, "A large number of Hindu Brahmin priests are open to LGBTQ IA+ relationships. However, priests work out as a close-knit community, and there are possibilities of a priest losing his job for performing in such ceremonies."

Not just parents, If relatives, and society become part of such marriages, acceptance can come quicker. Many of these couples had a sense of fulfillment when they married in presence of their parents.