Hundreds of sexual minorities gathered at Thamel on the occasion of Gai Jatra to celebrate 16th Gai Jatra celebrations and Parade ceremony organized by Blue Diamond Society (BDS). Every year parade is organized to commemorate the death of LGBTIQ+ who lost their life due to gender discrimination. “Many sexual LGBTIQ+ people have been murdered or committed suicide due to their sexual orientation, we have been organizing this kind of event to commemorate them,” said LGBTIQ activist and Co-chairperson of ILGA, Manisha Dhakal.
BDS organized the pride ceremony inside isolated and private values till 2002 and then decided to get out in public and organize a parade. “Initially there was very little participation in the celebration. We started with just 25 people in 2002 and today more than 2000 people attended the celebration,” said Dhakal. Not just sexual minorities, various Nepali cinema icons, diplomats, stakeholders also attended the event including Media personality-Malvika Subba, Blogger-Lex Limbu, Actor-Priyanka Karki, American ambassador to Nepal- Randy Berry, and Australian ambassador to Nepal- Peter Budd.
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The exuberant crowd gathered with colorful at Tridevi Marg, Thamel walked through to Thamel Chowk, Narshig Chowk, Tahiti, Bangemuda, Indrachowk, and ended at Hanuman Dhoka. The parade was followed by candlelight ceremony as a remembrance of those who were diseased last year and rainbow concert at Tundikhel ground.
