By Aleem Maqbool | BBC | Britain |
Jasvir Singh is one of the most prominent Sikh voices in British public life. He is also gay – a fact that he has kept mostly private until now. It’s put him at odds with some members of his own community, but he says he now wants to speak up about his sexuality.
Jasvir Singh lays out some photographs on the table in front of him. They are pictures of joyful moments from the day last summer when he married his husband, Nick.
“I know that speaking about this is going to be highly controversial,” he says. “I’m sure there will be lots of people out there who will be upset, annoyed, even angry at me.
“But I’ve got nothing to hide and I know that I have got Waheguru [God] with me, as I have had Waheguru with me all the way.”
Jasvir is a family law barrister and the main Sikh contributor to Radio 4’s Thought For The Day. He has just been awarded a CBE for his work bringing faith communities together and advocating for vulnerable groups.
But through it all, he has lived with a swirl of speculation about his private life – often spilling over into attempts at intimidation – that he now wants to address head-on.
“There is a very small element of the British Sikh community that makes itself loudly heard. From them I have received death threats for being gay, I have been accused on a TV station of being an infidel and I have even had individuals call me up and threaten to expose me.”
Though Jasvir says he has not tried to hide his sexual orientation, it is not something he has talked about publicly.
After a video from his wedding recently started being shared on social media, he felt the time was right to speak up. He wanted to tell his story on his own terms, and also to send a message to gay Sikhs facing difficulties.
“Just as my Sikhism is part of me, so is my sexuality. So is my turban. So is my identity. I can’t divorce any one thing from the rest of me. That is who I am.”
Jasvir Singh chairs London-based City Sikhs and is the vice chair at the Faiths Forum. To read the full story, click here.
RELATED STORY:
Growing up gay and Sikh in the UK (Asia Samachar, 7 Nov 2019)
Same-Sex & Other Relationships: A Sikh View (Asia Samachar, 10 Feb 2018)
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Indeed, “his” private life is “his” own business. (No longer sure about legal correctness of terms he/she.)
The next step can be “Human-animal Marriage: “One of the Creepiest and Bizarre traditions of India”
https://thesecondangle.com/human-animal-marriage/
The person in this case has presented Sikh faith programmes on BBC. His view would be taken as the “Sikhi” view. Therefore, the attention he is attracting. Otherwise, there is general agreement that one’s “sex” is a personal matter.
His private life is between him n God and he knows about it. Its just that people are threatening to expose him so might as well come out with it. Waheguruji is very loving n forgiving, why can’t we just accept n see the real stuff that’s he’s saying. Bless you for yr courage beta.
there’s a very disturbing agenda to try to justify all sin by ‘easy’ arguments that God loves us all so that’s it. Faith and true living is a difficult path- try controlling your thoughts and acts and not turning Sikhi around to justify your own choices.
I was contacted by BBC with reference to an article on the Sikh Missionary Society UK Website giving a Sikh view about same sex marriages. The article also appeared in Asia Samachar:
https://asiasamachar.com/2018/02/10/17635/
This view was represented by a Society member during a BBC discussion.
The author says, “….one of the most prominent Sikh voices in British public life.”
Where did he get this? The Sikh view about same sex marriages was given on BBC by a Sikh who at least keeps his sabat-surat SIKH ID!
His sex is his business but what is the objective of making it public is of little relevance to others.
Also what is the need to emphasise his religions which may also be beyond understanding of most and raise unwanted controversies.
Bless all
Comments are closed.