Lakshya Trust
Lakshya Trust
Lakshya Trust Founded by a group of five gay friends from different rural locations of Gujarat State in India, the organization initially evolved as a platform for support system for Gay and Bisexual men on issues of coming out, sexuality education, mental order cialis, human rights and religious and cultural inheritance related to same sex issues. The informal support group then (in 1999) reached out to almost 100 Gay and Bisexual men spread across the province through pen friendship letters, as there was no interment back then!
In 2000, Prince Manvendra started Lakshya Trust, of which he is a chairman of, an organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs for gay and bisexual male population. A registered public charitable trust, Lakshya is a community-based organization working for HIV/AIDS prevention among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). It provides counseling services, clinical services for treatment of sexually transmitted infections and Condom promotion. Lakshya won the UNAIDS Civil Society Award 2006 for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among homosexual men. The trust also plans to open a hospice/old age home for Gay men. Lakshya is a member of the India Network For Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM) and a founding member of the Sexual cialis Action Network (SHAN). In 2007, Prince Manvendra joined the Interim Governing Board of the Asia Pacific Coalition On Male Sexual Health, known as APCOM, a regional coalition of MSM and HIV community-based organizations, the government sector, donors, technical experts and the UN system. He serves as India Community Representative on behalf of INFOSEM, the India MSM and HIV network.
Lakshya Trust now is a community based organization (Registered Charity, 2001) primarily working on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among MSM (Men having Sex with Men) population in three major cities (Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot) of Gujarat state in India. The organization through its HIV related outreach services reaches out to more than 18,000 MSM populations, a project totally managed by all Gay staff. Our HIV related work is supported by the local Government.
Services
Condom Promotion : Condom prevents sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, free condoms and lubes are distributed through outreach services every day at Gay cruising sites. Condom usage is promoted through one to one interactions and group discussions with the clients. For easy access of condoms, condom outlets have been established at all the Gay cruising sites and at public urinals ensuring the availability and accessibility of condoms round the clock.
Counseling : Counseling services for HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and sexuality related issues is provided by the organization. Coming out, confusion with gender role and identity, pressure of heterosexual marriage, change of orientation are some of the issues which are dealt with related to sexuality counseling. Counseling services also systematically addresses mental health issues such as guilt feelings, depression, suicidal ideation, self destructive behavior, anxiety due to sexual orientation sometimes doubled with HIV status.
STICare
Anyone can be infected by HIV, but chances are higher if someone has STI (Sexually transmitted Infection) thus the treatment of STIs is crucial to prevent HIV infection. The organization has an STI clinic in place the only and first of its kind in the entire Gujarat State exclusive for the MSM population, with a Gay friendly doctor and paramedical staff in place the clinic provides counseling and treatment to the clients.
The organization is also a National surveillance site for the country body National AIDS Control Organization, which further helps to figure out the prevalence rate of HIV among the Gay population through its annual HIV test exercise.
Positive Care : Being HIV positive and Gay adds double stigma and discrimination, Lakshya Trust works towards collectivization of HIV Positive individuals and provides basic HIV services such as counseling, diet counseling, linking up with Government run Anti Retroviral Therapy Centers. We also provide safe spaces for recreational meetings and activities for positive men.
We recently have nurtured and launched a support of HIV Positive group of HIV positive Gay men named 'Nokhyu Aikhyu' (A different life) this support group is a registered charity and has its presence in five cities of Gujarat State, India. The organization will further work on rights based and health based issues of HIV Positive Gay, strengthening networks and creating pressure groups to influence policies related to HIV Positive individuals.