MUMBAI, India – When India’s Supreme Court started hearing a case to legalize same-sex marriage earlier this year, matchmaker Kamakshi Madan suddenly received an increase in enquiries from parents seeking spouses for their LGBTQ+ children.
Indians spend a fifth of the total wealth accumulated in their lifetime on their weddings, according to loan provider Reliance Money, in a trillion rupee industry.If India legalizes gay marriage in the coming months, it will become only the third place in Asia to do so after Taiwan and Nepal. But attitudes are shifting: 53% of Indian adults say same-sex marriage should be legal, found a June report by the Pew Research Center, a polling and research organisation.Madan, whose clients call her “the LGBTQ+ Sima aunty” in reference to the popular Netflix reality show“I have had a father from a background call and say, ‘Please find a bride for my daughter’,” said Madan, who set up her matrimonial and counseling company Aarzoo in 2018.
Bondre, who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said many same-sex couples want traditional religious marriage ceremonies, in line with cultural norms.“We also dream that we will have a similar commitment.”