By Aleem Makboor Religion Editor, BBC News
image provided, Lex Fleming Photo
Jasvir Singh (left) and husband Nick’s wedding photo
Jasvir Singh is one of Britain’s best-known Sikhs. And he’s also gay. Ms. Singh rarely revealed this fact until recently. This has caused some friction with the Sikh community, but now she wants to speak out regarding her sexuality, Singh said.
Shin lined up the photos on the table in front of him and took a deep breath. It is a picture of her happy moment when she married her husband Nick.
“I know it’s very controversial to talk regarding this,” Singh said.
“I know there are a lot of people who are upset, frustrated and even angry with me.”
“But I have nothing to hide, and I know God is with me all the time.”
Singh is a family law barrister and a Sikh consultant on Radio 4’s Thought For The Day program. He previously earned the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his work in organizing faith communities and representing vulnerable groups.
During these activities, however, Singh was subjected to speculation regarding his personal life, and sometimes even threats. Her private life is exactly what Shin-san wants to talk regarding right now.
“There were vocal allegations from a handful of the British Sikh community, including receiving death threats for being gay and being criticized for being disrespectful for appearing on television. There were people who asked me to come and get naked.”
Shin said he never tried to hide his sexual orientation, but he never spoke publicly.
Mr. Shin giving a speech at a forum where various religions and beliefs gather.The audience includes the Muslim Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
When the wedding video went viral on social media, Singh said it was time to speak up. She wants to talk regarding herself in her own words and reach out to her gay Sikhs who are in trouble.
“Sexual orientation is part of me as Sikhism is part of me. Turban is part, identity is part of me. ”
Raised in a Sikh family, Singh says the religion is very focused on its core tenet of equality. And he said he never felt conflicted between his religious beliefs and sexual orientation. Ms. Singh told us regarding the turning point in her life when she was 16 years old.
“While awaiting the results of my General Qualification for Secondary Education (GCSE, equivalent to High School Graduation Examination), I went on a pilgrimage to India. Hemkund Sahib, a beautiful idyllic gurdwara (Sikh temple) in the Himalayas. Heh, I walked with my father for three or four days.”
“When I said my prayers following the arduous journey, I was praying that I would be straight.
But when the pilgrimage was over, her sexual orientation did not change, and she began to believe that God made her that way. Shin said this gave him the confidence to come out to his friends.
Singh says many Sikhs think otherwise, but he has never found Sikh teachings and scriptures inconsistent with his beliefs and sexual orientation.
Guru Granth Sahib, the central scripture of Sikhism, does not mention homosexuality, but does mention husbands and wives.
It also states that the spirit of God is all-pervasive and dwells in all people, regardless of race, class or gender. So now Sikhs from all walks of life can point to scriptures to back up their positions on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
But Singh recently faced an insurmountable obstacle, he said. That meant she mightn’t live her faith the way she wanted and the way others might.
“My husband is white, British, and not born into a Sikh family, but he understands my faith and respects it as part of my life. He said he wanted to raise me as a Sikh.”
“We discussed in detail what kind of wedding we wanted, but sadly there was no way to have it in a gurdwara. In my interpretation of Anand Karaji[Sikh wedding ceremony]there was no reason for that.”
image provided, Huw Evans picture agency
Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar is one of the main temples of Sikhism.
But Sikh communities in other parts of the world, including the UK, have very different views.
In 2005, Akal Takht, the supreme leader of the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple), one of the Sikh temples in Amritsar, Punjab, in northwestern India, reiterated his position that same-sex marriage should not be allowed. .
Gourmel Singh, chairman of the Supreme Council of Sikhism, the body representing Sikhism in the United Kingdom, also said: “From a religious standpoint, this position is unwavering. Anand Karaji ceremonies are for heterosexual couples only.”
Chairman Singh knows and respects Ms Singh as a defender of Sikhism, but even in a rapidly evolving society, the basic tenets of her faith have changed to allow Ms Singh to marry a man in a gurdwara. Said it wouldn’t happen.
But Singh said there was a moment when he was deeply moved when he was accepted by a religious figure of Sikhism. She said it was when she visited Gurdwara in the UK last year with her fiancé while she was preparing to register her marriage.
“We had a rumala (a cloth covering the scriptures) to offer our blessings. He said he would offer a prayer.”
“He asked me if there was anything in particular I wanted him to pray for, so I just said, ‘Please pray for my health.’ But Granci asked if I really wanted him to pray for anything else. I noticed that they were applying mehendi (henna) to each other’s hands, which is often done before marriage.”
“Granci said a prayer, not only for our health, but for our two families to come together. It was very powerful for me and for both of us. rice field”
Shin and Nick
Singh and Nick had just spent their honeymoon in Punjab and other gurdwaras across India.
Most Sikhs have roots in Punjab. As a result, Singh feels that the leadership’s decrees are more influenced by Punjabi culture than scriptures. British Sikh institutions deny this.
“Unfortunately, we have seen gay Sikhs who have given up on their faith, those who feel forced to cut their hair and distance themselves from their faith, and those who focus on their inner beliefs rather than their time in their gurdwara.”
Singh heads a progressive Sikh organization in the UK, but some communities do not see him as a true practicing Sikh. He simply wears a turban and follows a part of Sikhism.
“My faith is consistent through life’s ups and downs. I never give up my faith, but I’m never ashamed of my sexuality,” Singh said.
One of the reasons Ms. Singh spoke up was that Sikhs had no gay role models, especially those who had partners or who they felt were religious. be. On the one hand, she said, she also feels that she is relatively privileged.
“Sadly, I know a Sikh who was kicked out of his family for coming out as gay. there is
“Receiving this kind of behavior from a family member wearing a turban connects the act with the belief in an image. Such an experience may prevent you from even speaking openly with the person wearing the turban.”
Singh says he hopes his voice will help others feel proud of themselves
Shin says he hopes his voice will make other people proud of who they are.
Singh says there is a growing understanding and acceptance within the British Sikh community. And while she’s prepared for some backlash herself, she also hopes someone will be pleasantly surprised.
“An elderly relative first learned I was gay when my wedding video leaked and miraculously went viral on social media.”
“She’s in her 90s and told other family members, ‘If he’s happy, so am I.’ We all learn from this.”
