He is tall, slender and handsome and could make for a model. Surprisingly he is a politician. Sunil Panth is an MP from Nepal, the country that has recently become a democratic country throwing the king’s rule.

In an event organized by the human rights organization Sangama in Chennai, Mr. Panth addressed the audience who were all sexual minorities and their supporters. It was a fascinating evening for both me and Rose, fellow Transgender activist and a TV person. For the first time we were able to meet and interact with lesbians, gays, transwomen and transmen all under one roof. It was a wonderful moment as the air was filled with the scents of flowers and musks. We were taken aback by the masculinity of the transmen whom we met at the doorsteps. They were cool and determined. Moreover, they really made us comfortable with their warm reception. There were exciting introductions, hugs, laughter, cordial ‘hellos’ and ‘how are you’s.

On the stage already was Mr. Sunil Panth. The 35 year old Belarus-educated computer engineer is the first openly gay MP from Asia. He founded the Blue Diamond Society (BDS) in 2002 in Nepal, with a network of 20 organisations, and has been its executive director ever since.

Just after his inspiring and informative speech about the status of LGBT people in Nepal and his concerns for Indian sexual minorities in India, in a private conversation with Mr. Panth, Rose and I shared our concerns about the situation in India. “Nepal has recognised the third gender as a separate gender. Passport and national identification card have third gender mentioned. Understanding that the LGBT community is a huge vote bank, political parties in Nepal include our needs in their manifestoes” he said.

Condemning the ruthless treatment meted out to transgender people in Bangaluru, he said that sexual minorities should be free and the society should accept them as they are.  See A Rare Meeting with Nepal’s Openly Gay MP, Sunil Panth
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