Could we have scripted a better story to commemorate Pride Month 2016?
Salaphaty Rao, 22, a Malaysian Indian with his roots in Vishakhapatnam met John McCane, 28, a banker from Ohio, USA on the Facebook group ‘LGBT Hindus Satsang’.
What began as a fun chat online, has now grown into an inspirational relationship for members of the LGBT community worldwide — with the duo’s story going viral online.
“John added me on Facebook, and it was our common interest in spirituality and religion that flourished into love,” Salaphaty reminisces. Growing up in a strong cultural environment with cultural values, Salaphaty and his partner decided to have a traditional engagement ceremony.
Unlike many homosexuals who have a hard time coming out of the closet due to social constraints, this couple’s families have rallied behind them.
“My mom was supportive from the start and I have shared everything with her. She even drove and accompanied me to get our engagement rings! My dad, on the other hand, took some time to accept it. When we were engaged, outwardly he was happy — but inwardly he was still on the fence. That was until he met John and was convinced that he’d be a great son-in-law!” Salaphaty fondly recalls.
“We were surprised with the number of people, who congratulated us and invited themselves to our wedding!” he says, adding that the only way to fight the prejudice that exists against homosexuals across the world, is by educating people on the matter.
The recent Orlando shooting, where many gay men were killed by an armed assailant, was distressing, John says, adding that possibly the shooter, who is said to have hid his sexuality, was fighting his own mind — “I remember being a teen, and realising that I liked other men, but fought and suppressed it due to the conservative atmosphere I was in.”
Things are different now. “I am exactly how I was meant to be and I am proud of it,” he says with joy and pride. Many societies can show prejudices against homosexuals but times are changing and soon there will be an equal world, John opines.
“Ignorance and fear are the reason many of us show prejudices against a certain group. Until recently, many of us were closeted and therefore in most people’s eyes we were an oddity. It is changing now,” he says.
“We both have dreamed of a perfect South Indian wedding but we aren’t sure of when it will be. We are planning to have it within a year or two,” Salaphaty says.
He concludes, “When society looks down upon homosexuals, be the change for which the same society will look up to you. This will break the misconceptions surrounding homosexuality.”
