Sunil Babu Pant is the first openly gay politician in Nepal. He is one of five members from the CPN(U) in the constituent assembly, and is also head of the Blue Diamond Society, the only gay rights group in Nepal.
He also heads an LGBT-positive travel agency, Pink Mountains, which provides honeymoon packages for LGBT tourists from abroad.
In a short question answer session with Tushar M-
What all legislations regarding same sex marriage are in place in Nepal? How effective has the implementation of the same been?
The marriage law being drafted is at final stage after thorough consultations with many stakeholders including police and religious groups as well. Soon the committee will present this draft same sex marriage bill to the government and then the government will take it to the parliament to pass.
How has the public responded to these legislations? Is there still a degree of scepticism in the society about same-sex unions?
During the consultations many suggested it should be called marriage but few religious groups called it should civil partnership but rights and protection should be same. So the public reaction is positive towards the law.
Do these same sex marriages guarantee the partners the same rights as a heterosexual married couple? What measures is the government taking to implement them and to prevent hate crimes?
In draft it guarantees the same rights but it’s still in a draft form and we hope it will remain the same.
Is being openly gay in prominent positions, like you being a member of the parliament, difficult?
No, in fact being out and honest is the most convenient thing I have experienced.
Are there nationwide organisations aimed at queer youth in function?
In most of the places, we have no networks. We are in 40 districts out of 75 in Nepal. Have string visibility but not loud and not on face of anyone. We work with other groups but we are working more closely with local governments than the NGOs or civil society. Recently we have signed the MoU with women, children and social welfare ministry to work on numbers of issues like: drafting new laws to guarantee equality for LGBTI. To sensitize all government departments and to formulate action for government’s inclusion plan. Only two days ago the local development ministry issued circular to all the districts to get sensitized on LGBTI matters. The government allocates budgets to support LGBTI programs. 12th Of September is our 10th Anniversary and we are celebrating it in a big way.
Any future legislations or policies targeted at the LGBT community?
Law Ministry and Women, Children and Social welfare Ministry is working on the amendment of all discriminatory laws against LGBTI and this will be completed by end of this year.
