Participating in Delhi's LGBT parade on sunday, homosexual Nepalese MP dares his Indian counterparts to come out of the closet

'Will gay netas pleas stand up!'

Participating in Delhi's LGBT parade on sunday, homosexual Nepalese MP dares his Indian counterparts to come out of the closet

Sunil Babu Pant believes in setting the record straight. While participating in the Third Delhi Queer Pride Parade held yesterday, the Nepalese Member of Parliament, who is openly gay, said he wants Indian MPs to be candid about their sexual orientation.

One of the more prominent faces fighting for LGBT rights, Pant was in the country on an official visit. "But I couldn't keep away from the parade because it is a cause I totally believe in," said the first openly gay MP of an Asian country.

Closets are for clothes: Sunil Babu Pant is the first openly gay
politician in Nepal.u00a0 He also heads an LGBT-positive travel agency,
Pink Mountains, which caters to gay couples. pic/mid day

Know gays aloud
The computer engineer turned politician has been fighting for LGBT rights for over a decade which finally led to Nepal becoming the first country in the world to officially recognise the third gender. "But compared to Nepal, India is still intolerant when it comes to such issues," he said, "Not only people from normal walks of life but some religious fundamentalists here are roadblocks when it comes to LGBT rights," he added.

VHP Leader, Vinod Bansal said: "Individual's liberty is not beyond the cultural values of the country. These people who are saying that they are proud to be gay, should be asked whether they would allow the same in their families as well. Those who are violating the set principles of our predecessors would face the consequences."

Equal rights
The politician discussed issues like border security and trade with his Indian counterparts. But Pant didn't stop at that. "I discussed LGBT issues also with Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar," he informed. "Though she didn't give concrete comments, her listening to such issues shows silent support," he added. Pant also says that he spoke to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia on issues like setting a budget to support 'queer' people who are economically downtrodden. "Civil rights of property, adoption or insurance benefits are areas which are totally neglected," said Pant.

'Just do it'
So, where does the problem lie and what is the way out? "The solution is support from society. The Nepalese media is very supportive but certain sections of Indian media are still not comfortable with the subject. And, yes politicians play a big role. It's time gay politicos in the country came out of the closet. And they will get more votes if they do so," Pant said.

And the founder of The Blue Diamond Society, Nepal's first LGBT rights organisation, who later joined politics, believes that more and more people who are gay should join politics. "Things are changing but a lot needs to done. I informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs that I was going to the parade lest they should have some objection but they were cool about it. So you see perspectives are changing but like I said a lot still needs to be done," he signed off.u00a0

It's legal

On July 2 2009, Delhi High Court overturned the 150 year old section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, legalising consensual homosexual activities between adults.u00a0 The essence of the section goes against the fundamental right of human citizens, stated the high court while striking it down. In a 105-page judgement, a bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S Muralidhar said that if not amended, section 377 of the IPC would violate Article 14 of the Indian constitution, which states that every citizen has equal opportunity of life and is equal before law.

Going the distance

They came, they celebrated and they shouted out aloud: "We are gay, we are here and we are not going anywhere." The Capital's LBGT community came out to celebrate its Third Queer Pride Parade last evening at Jantar Mantar. The parade which started from Barakhamba Road saw people from all walks of life marching in support of dignity and rights of sexually marginalised people.
The parade saw people in colourful masquerade masks, to 'queer' costumes with balloons and flags rallying for issues like stopping discrimination in workplaces and public and private spaces, violence and allowing people to record gender category of their choice in the national Census of India among others.

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