KATHMANDU,

"People do not think that a disabled child/person can also be identified as a queer person and people are not fully aware of the intersectionality between gender and sexuality," said Safal Lama, a non-binary disabled queer person who is a co-member of Queer Youth Group. In the fourth episode of sexploration, the host of the episode Kriti Adhikari had a question answer session with Safal Lama, also an advocate and activist of queer disability rights and Rubina Tamang, President of Cruise Aids Nepal who identifies herself as a transgender woman.

This episode is the discussion on a set of questions from the general public which was collected after a survey done through the Instagram handle of Yuwa, a non- governmental and non-profit organization established in 2009, which is youth-run and led  working to promote youth participation through empowerment and advocacy. Here, Lama and Tamang answer the queries by sharing their personal experiences on behalf of the LGBTQI community. Various questions were asked based upon the challenges due to sexual identity, self-acceptance, self-realization, acceptance from society, phase amid coming out/opening up with particular sexual identity, inclusiveness, challenges, perspective and difference in past and present relating to acceptance and support for LGBTQI community and briefly on what pride month is about. 

According to Lama, in the significance of Pride Month, it is also being portrayed as a marketing strategy; such as a brand incorporating rainbow logo and displaying it everywhere in their products during the month of June. While it may seem like a positive change, it is functioning to fulfill a brand purpose by advertising rather than supporting LGBTQ community. It erases the importance of Pride month.

Meanwhile, the media also doesn't cover much about why pride month is celebrated, how it started and its importance. Following that, the episode shades light upon the theme of Pride Month in the past and present and what it is about. Lama said, "Now priority is given upon intersectionality, inclusiveness, policy changing, fighting for own rights and in the past, tool making, sensitization was more focused as the essence of pride month." Lama added, "it is about vocal out that a particular person with particular sexual identity exist rather than a celebration, it is about demanding human rights, and acting for the implementation of those rights." Similarly, Tamang stated, "the previous generation like our parents are narrow minded-while the new upcoming generation are open minded."

Discussing the involvement of non binary people on creating awareness and preserving their sexual identity, Tamang said "New programs  are being implemented as an organization and as an individual such as Pride Month TikTok competition, two days national consultation meeting, four days rainbow youth leadership training, LGBTQI orientation classes in schools, conducting flashmob targeting pan sexual, queer, asexual, bisexual, participated transgender, transwomen are being held."

Moreover, Lama and Tamang also highlighted on CSC(Comprehensive Sexual Education, Citizenship according to identity, legalize LGBTQI marriage, include CSC in curriculum, health policy and health issue challenge,homophobic behavior, queer phobics behaviour and about how can people be better allies with LGBTQI community.

Video Link : https://youtu.be/m0PJRXAeclE