Goa minister to offer medical treatment to LGBT; comments attract flak

Ramesh Tawadkar said that the Goa govt was contemplating to start centres on the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous in order to make the LGBT youth normal

Goa Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar's comments declaring his government's intention to set up special centres to train and offer medicinal treatment in order to bring LGBT youth back to normal has attracted flak on the social media as well in the opposition ranks here.

Twitter comments by the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender community with the hashtag #ClinicBharo dedicated to Tawadkar's controversial statement took several digs at the Goa minister for his comments.

Says Manak Matiyani @Dafliwala: "So are they allocating land close to the beach for the #GoaLGBTClinics? Must take a dip with other patients #ClinicBharo with #AnonymousLGBT"

@delhiqueerpride tweeted: "Hope the GoaGovernment clinics have separate gender dorms #AdmitLGBTAnonymous #ClinicBharo."

Tawadkar, while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a function held to launch the Goa State Youth Policy 2015 Monday, said that the Goa government was contemplating to start centres on the lines of Alcoholics Anonymous in order to make the LGBT youth normal.

"We will train them and (give them) medicines too," he had also said.

The Opposition Congress has also criticised Tawadkar for what it calls making an "unscientific, illogical and brainless" statement.

"Everyone has a right to live their life the way they want to. This statement is similar to the statement made by Baba Ramdev in 2013, when he had also offered to 'cure' homosexuality. Is the BJP government in Goa towing the Ramdev line?" asked Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat.