Read this in: Nepali, Nepal Bhasa
Nepal Pride Parade is the first Pride Parade in Nepal that claimed a day for the people of marginalized sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics (PoMSOGIESC). This pride parade began with establishment of a Pride Day in Nepal.
Name
Full name : Nepal POMSOGIESC (People of Marginalized Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics) Pride Parade
Short name : Nepal Pride Parade
Hashtags: #NepalPrideParade and #NepalPride(year) – such as for 2021 it is #NepalPride2021
Semantics
Pride Parade : Pride parades are outdoor events celebrating social and self acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride of PoMSOGIESC.
Pride : Being PoMSOGIESC was or has been considered socially as ‘something to be ashamed of’ and been associated with stigma and taboo. The term “pride” emerged as a rebellion against this stigma and shaming of gender and sexual identities and feeling pride in what you are.
Pride Day : The Pride Day in particular is the day when Pride Parade is celebrated. Pride Parade is a particular parade / rally event, while the day it falls on is the Pride Day. Second Saturday of June is the Pride Day in Nepal.
Pride Month : The month of June in the Gregorian Calendar is the ‘Pride Month’.
PoMSOGIESC : People of Marginalized Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Sex Characteristics
The pride parade is about people of marginalized sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics (PoMSOGIESC). We also use the term ‘queer’ interchangeably with ‘PoMSOGIESC’.
We are not Gender and Sexual Minorities. No one knows the population of queer people and declaring us as minority is dismissive. Moreover the focus on ‘numbers’ ignores fluidity and diversity of this population. Moreover the word ‘sexual minorities’ actually refer to ‘practices differ from the majority of the surrounding society’ which includes sex workers, people practising BDSM and various kinks and fetishes, polyamorous practises, swinging. While all forms of sexual practises are equally valid, the term ‘sexual minorities’ is ambiguous and fails to address particularly people of diverse sexual orientations beyond heterosexuality. Sexuality is broad and covers a wide range of experiences and expressions related to sex and eroctica, while sexual orientation specifically means people’s identity based on what gender(s) they are sexually and romantically attracted to. BDSM, kinks, fetishes, polyamory, swinging, etc under the ‘sexual minorities’ umbrella are practised by people of all sexual orientations. The term ‘sexual minorities’ is also discriminatory because in many parts of the world where relationships between people of different races isn’t a common practise, inter-racial relationships are also labeled as ‘sexual minorities’. Also, adults in relationships with an age disparity have also been labeled as ‘sexual minorities’. With such subjective language, in some societies, heterosexual couples having anal sex could also fall as ‘sexual minorities’ if anal sex is a taboo and not a mainstream practise. One one hand sexual minorities are broad covering all sorts of sexual practises that aren’t considered to be ‘mainstream’ in practise and it is not specific to referring sexual orientations beyond heterosexuality, and on the other hand it is discriminatory to label any sexual practise as “other” and “minority” just because not practised in the mainstream society. Similarly ‘gender minorities’ over-simplifies gender diversity. Such as the binary transgender population transmen and transwomen do not identify beyond the gender binary. But there is a misconception that being transgender is a completely different gender apart from male and female. This language further enables such social misconceptions.
We are not limited to ‘LGBTI’. There are many acronyms similar such as LGBT, LGBTIQ, LGBTIQAP, LGBTIQ+. Nepal Pride Parade is not limited to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex folks. We include a wider range of diversity in gender and sexual identities. We understand that many identities and vocabularies have been well-known and established, however many identities are evolving and emerging.
This is not a third gender rally. Nepal Pride Parade includes wide range of gender and sexual identities. We are not about ‘third gender’ individuals.
This not a Gay Pride. The whole PoMSOGIESC diversity cannot be reduced to ‘gay’.
Our core principles
- Gender and Sexuality as a spectrum – No boxes, No rigidity. Diversity, Spectrum and Fluidity and three key words.
- Intersectionality – All social struggles, oppressions and inequality – Caste system, Ethnic inequality, Indigenous rights, People with disabilities, and all forms of social and institutional oppression are part of queer rights movement.
- Diversity
Our values
- No organizational banners : A very common trend in rallies across Nepal is that people hold the banner of their organization and everyone from the organization stands behind it. This practise not just excludes people who do not belong to any organization, but keeps the observance centred to organizations. No organization is expected to bring banners to the pride parade, including the organizing teams. Pride Parade isn’t about organizational banners and standing behind it, it is about how we all come together from diverse intersections of gender and sexualities come together to celebrate and embrace this.
- No speech : This isn’t a Kon Sabha or a lecture. We don’t want anyone to doze off. There will be short announcements about when would we move, what is our route and also an announcement of departure.
- No special guests. We all are special. No celebrity culture or VIPs.
- No forms of harassment, abuse and violence is tolerated. Let’s all work together to make this space safe for everyone.
- No attempts of rainbow capitalism.
- No fundings from international donors, agencies, or government. Nepal Pride Parade will be organized from locally generated resources.
History
Nepal Pride Parade began since 2019. The year also marked commencement of Queer Womxn Pride and Queer Indigenous Pride. In 2019, the event was observed on June 29, the day after the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot. It also marked the second saturday of June being declared as the Pride Day.
Nepal Pride Parade 