Nepal MP speaks for rights of sexual minorities

Mumbai, November 13 At home Sunil Pant is an articulate and successful Member of Parliament who fights for the rights of people of his country, Nepal, whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. On a visit to Mumbai, the only openly gay MP from the Himalayan country marched with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) people in Azad Maidan to campaign against the alleged violence perpetrated by the police against sexual minorities in Bangalore and other parts of India.

On Thursday, the city’s LGBTI community gathered and raised slogans such as, ‘Save Democracy, Protect Sexual Minorities’ and ‘Dushmani Hatao, Dostana Badhao’ (Remove enmity, encourage friendship).

“We have moved from being a marginalised and persecuted lot who were thrown out of homes, schools and jobs to people who have human rights and are now protected by the police, the same people who once harassed us,” said Pant. Pant is the founder of the Blue Diamond Society (2003), a network of 20 groups and organisations working on HIV/AIDS, human rights and social justice issues for sexual and gender minorities in Nepal.  “India is the world’s biggest democracy. It’s shocking and saddening to see that basic human rights of sexual and gender minorities are denied,” said the 34-year-old former software engineer. Pant has just returned from Bangalore after meeting with Sangama members and the transgenders who were allegedly subjected to police brutality, illegal detention, custodial torture and sexual assault.

“In Nepal, the LGBTI communities were part of the campaign for garnering votes for the Communist Party of Nepal (UML),” said Pant. “They approached me to campaign and I managed to secure 15,500 votes. It makes a statement that LGBTI people are interested in matters of politics and governance and not just sex,” he said.

“The campaign not only gave LGBTI issues visibility but a platform to negotiate for rights. The Nepal government now recognises the third gender (LBGTIs),” he added. Pant is also working with the government to sanction a shelter for homeless LBGTI population and poverty alleviation of sexual minorities. “It is one thing to clean up the city and stop transgenders from begging but one must provide them with alternative means of living,” said Pant. He says that in Nepal, transgenders are now trained as beauticians and hair dressers while lesbians run a public transport system.

“India is a very big country and a single strategy may not work,” said Pant. “However, I’m sure it won’t be long before a political party will tap the LGBTI vote bank¯there are millions of untapped votes.”