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WE ARE QUEER:

VISUAL ARCHIVE PROJECT

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AGITATORS

Manisha Dhakal, executive director of the country’s oldest queer organisation, Blue Diamond Society (BDS), attending the 17th Gai Jatra Pride Parade in 2019.

Photo Credit: Blue Diamond Society (2019)

An old photo of Bhikshu Kasyapa, previously known as Sunil Babu Pant, along with a few other founding members of BDS.

Photo Credit: BDS

In 2017, Pinky Gurung, the President of BDS became one of the first person from the queer community to contest for elections in Nepal. She was a candidate under the Proportional Representation (PR) category for the House of Representatives from the then Naya Shakti Party Nepal.

Photo Credit: Gopal Shivakoti (2017)

Pictured above is Rukshana Kapali, one of the young queer activists of Nepal. In 2019, along with a few other queer activists, Kapali organised the first-ever pride parade held in the pride month of June.

Photo Credit: Tsering Dolker Gurung (2019)

Natasha Shah aka Nattu on the cover of her first album. Nattu is one of the first queer artists to work in the mainstream Nepali media.

Photo Credit: Nattu (2013)

Bhumika Shrestha showing her citizenship. In 2015, she became the first person with ‘other’ official documents to travel abroad.

Photo Credit: Kyle Knight

A writer and educator, in 2020, Niranjan Kunwar released his memoir, ‘Between Queens and the cities’, becoming the first Nepali queer writer to publish a memoir.

Photo Credit: Niranjan Kunwar (2020)

Anjali Lama flaunting her Vogue Beauty Award. In 2019, Vogue India awarded her with the Model of the Year award.

Photo Credit: Anjali Lama (2019)

Bhakti Milan Shah, the President of Sexual and Gender Minorities Students Forum Nepal, after winning the position of a member in the Lalitpur chapter of Federation of Nepali Journalists.

Photo Credit: Bhakti Milan Shah (2021)

Bhikshu Kasyapa previously known as Sunil Babu Pant in Ratnapark.

Photo Credit: Kyle Knight

In 2009, Roshan Mahato, a former activist, founded the Sexual and Gender Minority Student Forum Nepal. Currently living in America, Mahato during his stay in Nepal, advocated for queer rights, raising awareness about gender and sexuality issues in schools and colleges across Nepal.

Photo Credit: Bibek Bhandari

Roshan Mahato sitting in his classroom.

Photo Credit: Bibek Bhandari

Pinky Gurung, president of BDS, clicking a selfie during the 17th Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Federation of Gender and Sexual Minorities, Nepal (2019)

Laxmi Ghalan, founder of Mitini Nepal, a queer organisation, giving a speech in a program. In 2005, Ghalan along with their partner went to the Kathmandu District Administration Office to seek recognition as a spouse.

Photo Credit: Mitini Nepal

Members of Blue Diamond Society in their office.

Photo Credit: Bhikshu Kasyapa (2005)

Meghna Lama posing for a photo. Lama is a co-founder of Pink Tiffany, a Kathmandu based queer restaurant.

Photo Credit: Miranda Morton Yap (2017)

Pictured above is makeup artist and activist, Nilam Poudel.

Photo Credit: Nilam Poudel

Bhikshu Kasyapa, previously known as Sunil Babu Pant, sits with the members of BDS on the stairs of a temple in Basantapur. Kasyapa was the first queer person to be a legislator in Nepal.

Photo Credit: Kyle Knight

Bhikshu Kasyapa, previously known as Sunil Babu Pant, giving a speech in Maitighar Mandala.

Photo Credit: Bhikshu Kasyapa (2005)

Models Anjali Lama and Megha Lama during their struggling days.

Photo Credit: Meghna Lama

Sudeep Gautam, a trans activist, showing the history of the queer movement in Nepal through a chart paper in a program organised by BDS.

Photo Credit: Sudeep Gautam

Pinky Gurung printing the election symbols of the party that gave her a ticket during the 2017 election.

Photo Credit: Pinky Gurung (2017)

A group photo of the members of BDS.

Photo: Bhikshu Kasyapa (2005)

Anjali Lama during her struggling days.

Photo Credit: Manisha Dhakal (2009)

PRIDE

Overwhelmed with happiness, two participants hug each other during the Pride parade organised by Queer Youth Group in 2019.

Photo Credits: Tsering Dolker Gurung

Two participants holding paper windmills at Maitighar Mandala during the 2019 Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Aasna Sijapati (2019)

Meghna Lama during the 9th Gai Jatra Pride Parade held in Bharatpur, Chitwan.

Photo Credit: Lex Limbu (2011)

Expressing their affection for each other, a participant kisses another person on their cheeks during the 2019 Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Ashma Gautam (2019)

Bhikshu Kashyapa previously known as Sunil Babu Pant carrying the pride flag while sitting on an elephant during the Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: BDS

Finding happiness in each other’s company, participants can be seen dancing during a pride parade.

Photo Credit: BDS

Participants carrying the pride flag during the 15th Gai Jatra Pride Parade held in Thamel.

Photo Credit: Ashma Gautam (2017)

A queer man walking on the streets of Bharatpur, Chitwan during the 2011 Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credits: Lex Limbu (2011)

To celebrate the tenth anniversary, BDS organised the 10th Gai Jatra Pride Parade in Pokhara, which witnessed the participation of thousands of queer people, who travelled miles just to participate in the parade.

Photo Credit: BDS (2012)

Niranjan Kunwar (first from left) along with his friends during the first-ever pride parade held in the month of June in 2019.

Photo Credit: Niranjan Kunwar (2019)

Safal Lama, a queer activist, carrying the Asexual flag. This year on April 6th, Lama along with a few other asexual individuals organised a small event at Basantapur, Kathmandu to celebrate International Asexuality Day.

Photo Credit: Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

A pride flag being waved at the streets of Makhan, Basantapur.

Photo Credit: Kyle Knight

Painting their whole face with the colours of the pride flag, a participant can be seen holding the pride flag during the 2017 Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Ashma Gautam (2017)

Dressed in various attires, participants can be see walking during the 3rd Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: BDS (2006)

Model and restaurateur, Meghna Lama at a pride parade.

Photo Credit: BDS

A participant holding a banner during the 2019 Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Ashma Gautam

As the streets of Thamel are filled with vibrant colours, in this image, participants can be seen walking while attending the Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: BDS

A volunteer observing the rally as they walk near Indrachowk during a pride parade.

Photo Kyle Knight (2013)

Model and actor Angel Lama (in the centre) along with queer activist, Bibek Magar (first from right) attending a pride parade in Sikkim in 2018.

Photo Credit: Angel Lama (2018)

A walk for pride and acceptance, as queer participants walk their way throughout the city of Pokhara at the 10th Gai Jatra Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: BDS (2012)

Esan Regmi (first from left), an intersex activist, holding the banner of Intersex Asia, an autonomous organisation advocating for intersex people,during the 2019 Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Aasna Sijapati (2019)

Members of Nepali Asexuals during the International Asexuality Day.

Photo Credit: Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

Two participants displaying their affection for each other while attending the 2019 Pride Parade.

Photo Credit: Tsering Dolker Gurung (2019)

As they get ready, a participant looks at the mirror checking their look for the day.

Photo Credit: Jan Moller Hansen (2015)

Carrying umbrellas in their hands, a participant is all covered with newspapers while attending the pride parade.

Photo Credit: BDS

LOVE

Bhakti Milan Shah holding his hands with his partner. Shah, a former army, was discharged from his position after Nepal Army came to know about his identity and his love for a female army personnel.

Photo Credit: Bibek Bhandari

Shah holding hands with his partner in their one-bedroom apartment.

Photo Credit: Bibek Bhandari

Surendra Pandey and Menuka Gurung during their wedding ceremony. Although Nepal’s marital laws are discriminatory a few queer individuals have been fighting against the oppression and injustice, by marrying their lovers, even if they don’t get legal recognition.

Photo Credit: Pahichhan Nepal (2019)

Surendra Pandey and Menuka Gurung exchanging rings
during their wedding ceremony.

Photo Credit: Pahichhan Nepal (2019)

Saurav Tamang and Suraj Chhetri during an after-party of their wedding. They exchanged their vows last year after dating for two years.

Photo Credit: Saurav Tamang (2020)

Saurav Tamang and Suraj Chhetri at their wedding.

Photo: Suraj Chhetri (2020)

Bhikshu Kashyapa previously known as Sunil Babu Pant attending a queer weeding.

Photo Credit: Bhikshu Kashyapa (2005)

Bhakti Milan Shah along with his partner.

Photo Credit: Bibek Bhandari

Pictured above is Nattu Shah (left) along with Nilu Doma Sherpa (right). Nattu and Nilu shared the deepest bond of friendship and were each other’s biggest support system.

Photo Credit: Nattu Shah

Sunita Lama, a trans woman with her two kids. Lama got custody of her two children, whom she had from her previous marriage with a woman.

Photo Credit: Sunita Lama

Spouses, Aashik Lama(left) and Niraj Sunwar(right) capturing their beautiful moment of theirs. Lama and Sunwar got married in 2019 in a church.

Shareen Khyungwa Tamang exchanging rings with their partner at their engagement ceremony.

Photo Credit: Shareen Khyungwa Tamang (2021)

Sunita Lama with her kids. Both Lama’s kids are well aware of LGBTIQ issues, as Lama frequently takes them to various queer events to increase their knowledge.

Photo Credit: Sunita Lama

Pinky Gurung along with the newlywed couple, Surendra and Menuka.

Photo Credit: Pinky Gurung (2019)

Shareen Khyungwa Tamang and their partner at their engagement ceremony. The couple recently got married in March, in the presence of each other’s families.

Photo Credit: Shareen Khyungwa Tamang (2021)

Nattu(right) having a fun time with her best friend Nilu (left). Both Nattu and Nilu were first people from the queer community to work in the mainstream Nepali media.

Photo Credit: Nattu Shah

Birthday presents of Sudeep Gautam, which he received from his queer friends.

Photo Credit: Sudeep Gautam

Aashik Lama and Niraj Sunwar attending a family function.

Photo Credit: Niraj Sunwar

Nattu with Nilu at a party.

Photo Credit: Nattu Shah

Members of the Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nepal, celebrating Valentine’s day.

Photo Credit: FSGMN

Photo Credit: FSGMN

Aashik Lama and Niraj Sunwar celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

Photo Credit: Niraj Sunwar

Surendra Pandey and Menuka Gurung during their wedding ceremony.

Photo Credit: Pinky Gurung (2019)

Bishnu Adhikari along with his partner. Last year, Adhikari, who's currently living in Maryland, US, married his partner of two years.

Photo Credit: Bishnu Adhikari

To celebrated the union of Shareen Khyungwa Tamang and their partner, Mitini Nepal organised a small party for them.

Photo Credit: Mitini Nepal (2021)

CELEBRATION