Thousands march under pride flag in Nepal after three-year pandemic interlude - see pics
The annual Pride parade is back on the streets of Nepal’s capital after a three year pandemic interlude. Hundreds walked the streets of Kathmandu waving flags, holding signs, and shouting pro LGBTQIA+ slogans.
It was organised at Maitighar on Saturday.
Let's know more about the pride parade.
What is a pride parade and how it started?
A pride parade is also known as pride march, pride event, or pride festival and is an outdoor event celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender(LGBT) social and self acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride. The events also at times serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage.
On November 2, 1969, Craig Rodwell, his partner Fred Sargeant, Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes proposed the first gay pride parade to be held in New York City by way of a resolution at the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ERCHO) meeting in Philadelphia.
(Photograph:AFP)
Nepal online pride parade 2021
Last year, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the pride parade held online.
The virtual event was screened with queer-centric short movies and TikTok videos and featured networking programs and a small virtual dance party.
“Although we could not gather on the streets, we will still continue the parade and amplify our voices and visibility through virtual means”, said the organisers.
Similarly, the organisers also used various hashtags like #NepalPrideParade and #NepalPride2021 and regularly posted on various social media platforms during the parade.
(Photograph:AFP)
Pride parade this year
On Saturday, the group March near the Federal parliament chanting slogans and holding placards the group has been demanding recognition and fighting for its identity they have been demanding legalisation of same-sex marriage and the issue of adoption of children..
The participants marched with rainbow coloured flag raising slogans.
(Photograph:AFP)
LGBT rights in Nepal
The newly promulgated constitution of Nepal in September 2015 has special provisions for sexual minorities by the group has been demanding to complete its implementation.
Nepal has some of the most progressive policies on homosexuality in South Asia, but the law still does not allow for gay marriage.
It introduced a transgender category for citizenship certificates in 2013, and passports must also include a third gender category.
(Photograph:AFP)