Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan publicly apologized to the LGBTQ+ community on 6 July 2025, following widespread criticism of comments he made during a student interaction earlier this year. His remarks, perceived as describing homosexuality especially male same-sex relationships as “perversion,” sparked backlash after a video clip resurfaced online.
In a detailed apology shared on social media, Thirumavalavan expressed remorse, stating, “Deeply Regret! An Explanation to LGBTQ+ Comrades! On February 12th, during the “Students’ Parliament” event held at the Agricultural University in Coimbatore, I answered some questions raised by students. I am pained to learn that one of my answers to a student’s question inadvertently hurt the sentiments of gender minorities. It has come to my attention that my comment, made without any malicious intent, has wounded their hearts. For this, I deeply regret. It was based on the demand put forth by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi in the Legislative Assembly in 2006 the Welfare Board for Transgenders was established in Tamil Nadu. The VCK also holds the distinction of being the only political party to have formed a dedicated wing for transgenders. The VCK is a party that has always advocated for the rights of LGBTQ+ comrades and stood in solidarity with them whenever they faced difficulties. Therefore, considering that the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is a movement that fights for the welfare of all marginalized communities, including those of the LGBTQIA+ gender spectrum, I request our comrades to please bear with us in this matter.”
பெரிதும் வருந்துகிறேன்!
LGBTQ+ தோழர்களுக்கு ஒரு விளக்கம்!
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கடந்த பிப்ரவரி 12 அன்று கோவை – வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் நடந்த "மாணவர் பாராளுமன்றம்" என்னும் நிகழ்வின்போது மாணவர்கள் எழுப்பிய சில கேள்விகளுக்கு விடையளித்தேன். அதில் ஒரு மாணவர்…— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) July 6, 2025
The apology came shortly after a two-minute video clip went viral amid Chennai’s Pride Month celebrations on 29 June 2025. The undated footage shows Thirumavalavan responding to a question from a law student coincidentally also named Thirumavalavan—during the Coimbatore event.
In the video, the student references a past speech by the MP, where he had spoken about ancient Tamil perspectives on love, symbolized through the merging of consonants and vowels to form “kaadhal” (love). The student then posed a challenging question, “You have mentioned in a speech that the ancient Tamil society defined love as ‘க் + அ’ becoming ‘க’. That’s how it became ‘kaadhal’ (love). ‘க்’ is a consonant (body), and ‘அ’ is a vowel (life). Just as a consonant and a vowel combine to form a ‘uyir-mei’ (a character with both body and life), a man and a woman unite, leading to reproduction, and that’s how a society forms. Now, in these days, men fall in love with men, and women fall in love with women. How do we view that? Does that also come under the same definition within Tamil society?”
Responding with what many interpreted as sarcasm, Thirumavalavan said, “In English, they call it perversion. If a man falls in love with another man, it’s perversion. It’s something contrary to nature.”
He then went on to describe love as an indescribable feeling, “Love, you see, cannot be defined. It’s a feeling beyond definitions. You can call it gentle; you can call it powerful. You can call it useful; you can call it terrifying. You can call it necessary; you can call it unnecessary. You can define it however you want, because it’s a feeling common to all living beings. This isn’t just common to humanity. If there’s one common characteristic among all living creatures, that characteristic is called ‘love’ in a single word.”
👀 Did Thol Thirumavalavan just define "homosexuality" as "perversion"? pic.twitter.com/AoWwRnVui9
— Saikiran Kannan | 赛基兰坎南 (@saikirankannan) June 30, 2025
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