Equal Junction

Today’s monsoon afternoon in Nepal brought rainbows of color to a gray day as they celebrated their ninth LGBT PRIDE.

First openly Gay lawmaker Sunil Babu Panta was the grand marshall as he (get this) rode on an elephant down the parade route…how amazing! Sunil Babu Panta is head of the Blue Diamond Society which fights for LGBT rights in Nepal.  Closely marching by him was Nepal’s first Transgender politician, Bhumika Shrestha, marching down the street in a purple sari – the color representing change

This year’s parade aims at ending all forms of discrimination, ending poverty and – promoting tourism.

‘It’s about promoting tourism, in line with the upcoming Tourism Year 2011, while also taking the unique festival to international level,’ Panta said.