Adhikari, a student and social worker from Churiyamai VDC, Makawanpur District, garnered the Mr Handsome-Gay talent and courage trophy from among 18 gay contestants. The first such competition not only in Nepal but in South Asia was organized by Blue Diamond Society in Kathmandu, Saturday. [break]
When asked if his parents knew that he was gay, he said that after overcoming lots of troubles he gathered the courage and shared with his parents and friends a few years back that he was gay.
"But today I am able to be Nepal´s first Mr Handsome among gays, which is the result of my courage and awareness," he said.
"Many students are expelled from school after they are identified as a sexual minority, because of lack of awareness and proper education, but today I can proudly say that I am a gay," he said and requested other gays to come forward and enjoy their lives without any hesitation.
The event is a striking sign of how far attitudes have changed, and the confidence of the gay participants has been increasing in recent days, according to Bhusan Dahal, one of the judges of the contest.
Until 1997 gay sex was illegal and homosexuality was treated as a mental disease and psychological problem, but today they were proud to organize such a contest in Nepal, Sunil Babu Panta, president of Blue Diamond Society, told Republica.
“We are intelligent, we are happy to be gay," said Anup Shrestha of Chitwan, winner of first runner-up in the pageant. “There are hundreds of people like us living in Nepal. It´s a wonderful life and we can´t hide it any more,” he said, responding to the judges.
The program was held amidst a crowd of not only LGBT´s but also family members and friends, at Rastriya Naachghar, Jamal. Rahul Shrestha of Kathmandu won the 2nd runner-up prize. In the program, three other gay participants garnered the Mr Red Ribbon, Mr Personality and Mr Friendly titles, which were conferred on them by Yuva Raj Chaudhary, Deepa KC and Prince Rana, respectively.
Dressed in black coat and pants, the participants demonstrated their talent while western music blared in the background and flashy, dazzling lights illuminated the venue. The gay participants talked openly about their right to choose their partners with dignity and equality, and urged families to accept their gay children for what they are. The pageant focused on talent, fitness, courage, elegance and other things.
The pageant will be held every year in the future and participants will be drawn from rural areas too, it is learnt.
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