Belief, Culture and Activism: an Activist’s insight Sunil Pant <pantsunil@gmail.com> May 12.2017 Dear Friends, As International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT 2017) is approaching, I wish to share a small write up based my experience during my time with Blue Diamond Society, (similar thoughts I shared at the recent YP10 conference in Bangkok and South Asia
The Himalaya mountain range runs across Nepal’s northern and western parts, and eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest, lie within its borders. On December 28, 2007, a bill was passed in parliament to amend the constitution declaring Nepal a federal republic, and thereby abolishing the monarchy. The bill came into force on May 28, 2008 as a constituent assembly meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, overwhelmingly voted to abolish royal rule. As of 2008 homosexuality and cross-dressing are criminal offenses but gay rights in Nepal are in a state of change in light of recent Supreme Court rulings to ensure the right to life according to their own identities and assuring equal rights to LGBTIs and amend all discriminatory laws.
Name: Nepal
Population: 23930000
Capital: Kathmandu - Pop. 800000
Area: 147181 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Nepali
Religion: Hinduism, Buddhism
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal (current change)
Telephone Country Code: 977
Gay Nepal: A Struggle Against History
At an International Lesbian and Gay Association conference, delegates gathered from more than one hundred countries to report on the condition of LGBT life. Among the leaders was Sunil Pant from Kathmandu, Nepal, head of Blue Diamond Society. I spoke to Sunil and listened to his confident voice describing the difficulties of fostering pro-gay understanding