Gay Weddings At Mount Everest?

Nepal is courting gay tourism by offering same-sex honeymoon travel packages to Mount Everest.

Nepal wants to paint Mount Everest pink with a campaign urging gay honeymooners to take a trek through the Himalayas. There are also plans to host the world's highest same-sex "weddings" at Everest base camp. But mainly, the conservative Hindu nation wants a chunk of the multibillion dollar gay tourist market to help pull it out of poverty. That quest - brushing aside historical biases in pursuit of economic opportunity - is symbolic of one of the gay rights movement's most stunning successes. Just five years ago, police were beating gays and transsexuals in the streets. Now, the issue of gay rights is almost passe. Nepal has an openly gay parliamentarian, it is issuing "third gender" identity cards and it appears set to enshrine gay rights - and possibly even same-sex marriage - in a new constitution. That acceptance has become a major marketing opportunity for a country cursed by desperate poverty, but blessed with majestic beauty.

The plan is backed by openly gay Nepal parliament member Sunil Pant, who just happens to own Pink Mountain Travel.