Sprinter Dutee Chand comes out, opens up about girlfriend

Tap to Read ➤ Sportstar May 19, 2019

100m record holder and winner of two Asian Games silver medals Dutee Chand revealed that she is in a same-sex relationship with a girl from her home town. The 23-year-old is thus the first Indian sportsperson to admit to being in a same-sex relationship.

Chand revealed she has been in a 3-year-long relationship with a girl.

While the couple had not thought of it as a long-term affair, the historic Supreme Court verdict in September 2018 that decriminalized same sex relationships between consenting adults provided the impetus for them to arrive at a decision of spending their lives with each other.

“When the Supreme Court ruling came on Section 377, we decided that there is no harm in spending our lives with each other. We decided that we will get married and have a small family for ourselves.”

“She is from my town and a sports fan herself. She read about the struggles that I have gone through to make a career in sports and told me that she was inspired. That is how got in touch with each other." While she did not wish to make her name public, Chand said they have no reason to hide from their truth.

“What we are doing is no crime. It is our life and we have the right to live it the way we deem right. I am in the public eye now because I am playing for my country but I will still have a lot of life left to live once I leave sports.”

Dutee faces expulsion from family after revealing same sex relationship.

"My eldest sister wields power and authority in my family. She feels that my partner is interested in my property. She has told me that she will send me to jail for having this relationship."

You do you, Dutee.

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