Gay Pride Parade: Nepali Transgenders Demand Social Equality

Hundreds of Nepali gay community members moved on to the streets of Kathmandu, on August 9, 2017, to mark their an annual pride parade.

Dressed in vibrant costumes and holding flags & balloons, around 1500 members of the community joined the parade to pay tributes to the members of LGBTI community who died in 2017.

“Every year we celebrate a pride festival to show that we want to be recognized in this society with our different identity that we are a part of this society,” says Pinky Gurung, President of the Blue Diamond Society, a Nepali gay rights organization.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old transgender woman Kriti Gurung urged the Nepali Government to focus more on the gay community. She says, “The government has recognized us, but should do more. People of third gender like us should be able to come out and society should accept us.”

According to rights activists, Nepali transgender community members continue to face discrimination and lack social support despite the presence of some of South Asia’s progressive laws on transgender rights in the country.

The annual gay pride parade event coincides with the Gaijatra festival, which adds on to the mass gathering on streets.