same-sex couple

Shirdi

Hyderabad

Telangana

LABIA

bisexual

transgenders

A Mumbai-based, forcibly separated by disapproving families in November last year, is back together. And this time one of them has her father on their side.Reshma Mokenwar, 27, and Preethi Sarkila, 20, who were hunted down inby thepolice after their families back infiled an abduction complaint, were reunited following untiring efforts of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) teacher Ketki Ranade, who is also a prominent same-sex rights activist, and her associates in Hyderabad.Mumbai Mirror was first to report Reshma and Preethi’s struggles in its November 21 edition last year when they were forced to live away from each other.While Reshma’s family has accepted her choice and her father often introduces her and Preethi as husband and wife in family circles, Preethi’s family, is still dead against the relationship, forcing the couple to stay in hiding at an undisclosed location in Mumbai.After they were picked up by the police from Shirdi in November last year, Reshma and Preethi were taken back to Hyderabad, where the latter’s family tried to marry her off to a man. When she resisted marriage, Preethi’s parents took her mobile phone away and put her in a lock down in the house.Preethi eventually got hold of an old phone lying in the house and got in touch with Reshma, who contacted Dr Ranade, who is a part of(formerly called Stree Sangam), a Mumbai-based collective of lesbian andwomen andfocused on queer and feminist activism. Dr Ranade alerted her associates in Hyderabad who helped Reshma and Preethi escape to Mumbai in December.Intially, the two stayed in one of the shelter homes in the city, protected by local activists. Later, they were moved to Dahisar, where they trained in data entry.In February, on Reshma’s insistence, the two travelled to Hyderabad. They returned to Mumbai later same month after securing Reshma’s family’s blessings.Both still fear Preethi’s family could disrupt their life and want to move to another city and start a catering business. Preethi, who is class XII pass, said there is no doubt in her mind that she wants to spend the rest of her life with Reshma. “I am in love with her and I am an adult. I hope my family too will accept this relationship one day,” she said.Dr Ranade said brave couples like Reshma and Preethi must be supported at every level. “Same sex is looked upon as perversion or a disease and not accepted as natural sexuality by many in our country. But we at LABIA help to break these taboos. I wish them best of luck,” she said.