Nepal to hold first gay Pride march

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Nepal’s only out gay MP has said that his country will hold its first Pride march this year.

Sunil Pant told AFP that he hopes 3,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people will join the event, to be held on August 25th in the capital Kathmandu.

The date coincides with a traditional festival in which men dress up as women. The festival has been adopted by gay groups in recent years.

Mr Pant, who is his country’s best-known gay campaigner, said: “We want to make this a truly international event.

“Nepal has made so much progress on gay issues in the last few years, and we hope to spread hope and inspire others.”

The country only decriminalised homosexuality in 2007 but Mr Pant is credited with turning around its attitude to LGBT issues.

Gay rights are expected to be enshrined in Nepal’s constitution, while a gay marriage law is being considered.

Earlier this year, tourism bosses announced that they hoped to attract one million tourists a year, up from 400,000 currently.

They are already discussing the prospect of holding gay weddings at the base of Everest and giving gay couples the chance to enjoy their honeymoons with tours on elephant-back.

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