Sports, medicine and an Alcoholics Anonymous-like community support system can cure homosexuality, Goa's youth and sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar declared on Monday, as he lodged his foot in his mouth.
He was releasing a youth policy for the state on National Youth Day which said that there should be sports activities for "stigmatised groups" like Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgenders and Intersex people. "We will make them normal," he said. "We will have a centre for them. Like Alcoholic Anonymous centres, we will have centres. We will train them and give them medicines too," he told the Indo-Asian News Service.
He explained further, "As in the case of other target groups such as juvenile offenders, drug afflicted youth, marginalised or migrant youth, geographically disadvantaged youth, a detailed survey would be carried out of the LGBT community so that their problems could be specifically addressed," he added.
LGBT individuals on Twitter soon created the hashtag #ClinicBharo that sought to laugh away the minister's suggestion.
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He was releasing a youth policy for the state on National Youth Day which said that there should be sports activities for "stigmatised groups" like Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgenders and Intersex people. "We will make them normal," he said. "We will have a centre for them. Like Alcoholic Anonymous centres, we will have centres. We will train them and give them medicines too," he told the Indo-Asian News Service.
He explained further, "As in the case of other target groups such as juvenile offenders, drug afflicted youth, marginalised or migrant youth, geographically disadvantaged youth, a detailed survey would be carried out of the LGBT community so that their problems could be specifically addressed," he added.
LGBT individuals on Twitter soon created the hashtag #ClinicBharo that sought to laugh away the minister's suggestion.
So are they allocating land close to the beach for the #GoaLGBTClinics? Must take a dip with other patients #ClinicBharo with #AnonymousLGBT
— Manak Matiyani (@Dafliwala) January 12, 2015Need a reason to go to Goa? It's where people like #LGBTyouth can go to "get normal" I'm sure they'll hv somethn for everyone #clinicbharo — Dhamini Ratnam (@dhamini) January 12, 2015@dhamini Is there early bird discount? Double for couples? I need to get on this fast. Is there women reservation? #ClinicBharo — Ek Sangini (@EkSangini) January 12, 2015Hey Goa, how about you listen to the Indian Psychiatric Society #clinicbharo http://t.co/Hmce38yk0o
— Danish Sheikh (@dsheikh726) January 12, 2015I wish if I could get treated upon by talented hot doctor while I get my 'normal' tag pasted on my head. #ClinicBharo
— Aakash Chandran (@ChandranAakash) January 12, 2015I did stand in line, but then got talking with the patient in front, & we decided to go home for a quickie sickie #ClinicBharo #GoaLovesGays — orinam.net (@chennaipride) January 12, 2015Hey Goa Government, <bites lips> will you administer special medicines, if I ask for "Goan Sausage" at your new #LGBT center? #ClinicBharo. — Mario da Penha (@mlechchha) January 12, 2015Hope the GoaGovernment clinics have separate gender dorms #AdmitLGBTAnonymous #ClinicBharo
— delhiqueerpride (@delhiqueerpride) January 12, 2015So what next? Goa govt to start centers for women 'deviating' from the 'path of righteousness'? #ClinicBharo
— Pooja Prasanna (@PoojaPrasanna4) January 12, 2015