Dutee Chand on Same-Sex Relationship: I Had Exchanged Rings With My Partner in 2018

Asian Games medallist and national champion Dutee Chand had exchanged rings with her same-sex partner at a temple in 2018 but refrained from telling anyone, fearing rejection. The star sprinter’s partner proposed her this Valentine’s Day. Dutee Chand Reveals She Is in a Same-Sex Relationship, Says It Is a Personal Decision and Should Be Respected.

Dutee, who clinched India’s first sprinting Asian medal since 1998 had been living together with her partner – who hails from Dutee’s home town — for the last two years. But didn’t want to make the news public fearing rejection and unacceptance from her home.

“Around the time of the Asian Games last year, my partner and I had exchanged rings. It was not an official ceremony or anything. We just went to a temple and did puja and we exchanged rings,” said the 100m national record holder in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express. Not Just Dutee Chand These Famous Sports Stars Admitted Being in a Same-Sex Relationship.

At a time when Dutee was fighting the Athletic Federation of India and at the same time nursing a wrist injury, her partner moved in with her. She not only helped Dutee with the household chores but also kept her motivated.

Supreme Court’s decision to decriminalise gay sex in 2018 gave her the courage to come out and speak publicly about her sexuality, says Dutee.

“I had started wearing a ring. So some athletes saw the ring and asked me why I am wearing the ring and I told them about it. I didn’t tell too many people, but I told some of the sprinters. Some of the athletes I train with knew about it,” added the 23-year-old.

Ever since she came out in public and talked about her sexuality, Dutee had received enormous support from eminent personalities, including global gay rights icon Ellen DeGeneres. Dutee Chand Finds Strong Support in Ellen DeGeneres After Athlete Reveals She’s in a Same-Sex Relationship (View Pic).

“I have been getting hundreds of phone calls. I knew it would make news, but didn’t realise the extent to which people would discuss it, tweet about it, and want to talk to me about it,” said Dutee to the national daily. “I just saw a positive comment by (actress and writer) Twinkle Khanna and Ellen (DeGeneres) tweeting about me.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 28, 2019 02:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).