Nepal Arrests Gays Activists

More than 70 gay activists were arrested in Kathmandu as they rallied for government IDs for transgender citizens. It's an unexpected development for Nepal, which has been expanding LGBT rights, encouraging gay tourism, and recently saw its first large-scale gay pride celebration.

Nepali men and women who identify as transgender are seeking citizenship certificates with their gender marked as "third sex" instead of male or female. Sunil Babu Pant, lawmaker and founder of the Blue Diamond Society, a gay rights group, says more than 70 people were detained near the prime minister's office and parliament. "We are running out of patience and are demanding our rights," Pant said from a detention centre. "Without the citizenship papers, the sexual minorities are unable to get a job, enrol in schools or colleges, seek treatment in hospitals and travel," he said. "They cannot even inherit parental property." In 2007, the Supreme Court ordered the government to amend laws to end discrimination against homosexuals, and give them the same rights as other citizens.

Kathmandu police says the arrests were made for "violating the norm" by demonstrating in a unapproved area.

2000 March In Nepal Pride Parade

Rex Wockner reports that Nepal staged its first ever large-scale pride parade yesterday as 2000 Nepalese and supporters from 15 other nations marched in Kathmandu. Photo embiggens nicely, more at the link.

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.

HomoQuotable - Elton John

"I have to speak my mind because as a gay man now I have a responsibility to. I sat back too long. When ACT-UP were going in and trying to change the face of AIDS awareness in America because nobody else was doing it, I sat back and did nothing." - Elton John, expressing guilt over not having taken part in the gay movement earlier. Since beginning his activist life, his Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised over $125M. John's latest project is supporting the Nepal's only gay rights group, the Blue Diamond Society, currently under fire by that nation's government for "promoting homosexuality."