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Lesbian Couple In India Who Have Been Married For Twenty-Five Years

01/03/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
As something of a counterpoint to the Lisa Miller/Janet Jenkins case, the editorial board of LGR would like to bring you the story of two women in India. Twenty-five years ago, Roinachi and Thingring fell in love, and with all the ceremonies of a Hindu wedding festival, they got married. This was long before the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality, and long before the very idea that decriminalization of homosexuality would even be debated. The two women faced a lifetime of problems, discrimination, and hard work, but they remain together today despite pressures to conform and find husbands. Legally, their marriage is not recognized in India. What follows is the news video clip of the women’s story, and the transcript of the clip.

“Long before homosexuality was decriminalised by a Delhi High Court ruling, two girls from a remote village of Kokrajhar in lower Assam went ahead and got married defying stigma and discrimination.

Marking in their own way the gay rights movement, this despite being under tremendous social pressure to conform.

By sunrise Roinachi gets busy cleaning the fish that she sells in the local market. By then her spouse Thingring has already left for the paddy field.

Twenty five years ago, Thingring fell in love with Roinachi who was serving as a domestic help in a family which allegedly tortured her. They soon married in a temple with Hindu rites. A shocked Fakiraguri village which had not even heard of gay relationships immediately ostracised them. They moved home and settled down in nearby Simlaguri village.

“Had we feared we couldn’t have got married,” said Thingring, husband.

They say it’s a marriage made in heaven.

“We have never had any marital discord. We are very happy together,” said Roinachi, wife.

Though same-sex relationship is still considered illegitimate, Simlaguri has slowly come to accept Roinachi and Thingring.

In a country where women are yet to be completely liberated, Thingring and Roinachi have gone that extra mile by marrying, displaying a rare boldness, much before homosexuality was even debated.

Today they are not just happily married but their conviction has even led to social acceptance.

But it was a struggle to even find work and survive. The government has given them a job card but people are no longer employing them for hard labour. After a lifetime fighting discrimination they now wish they can just have a piece of land and live on their own.”

Defying stigma, Assam women tie the knot