Sunil Pant

This abstract summarizes a recording from an event held at the Ilott Theatre in Wellington, where Sunil Pant delivered a keynote presentation during the third plenary session titled "Movement building for change." This event was part of the AsiaPacific Outgames in 2011 and included an introduction by Maryan Street. The presentation covered a range of topics pertinent to the advocacy and rights of LGBTI individuals in Nepal during the 2010s.

Sunil Pant, a leading figure within this movement, highlighted the foundational journey of the Blue Diamond Society, an organization pivotal to the progression of LGBTI rights in Nepal. Through a series of photographs, Pant detailed the Society's formation and the challenges faced, such as violence from law enforcement and societal discrimination against LGBTI individuals. The keynote recognized tangible advancements, including the celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia and the groundbreaking issuance of legal identification for third-gender individuals following a decisive Supreme Court ruling.

Moving on to proactive measures, Pant detailed the focus on empowerment training, leadership building, and political engagement, illustrating interactions with high-level officials and participation in cultural events such as the Gaijatra Festival and Pride. Furthermore, the presentation showcased Nepal's openness to the LGBTI tourist market, emphasized by the Tourism Minister's welcoming stance.

Pant subsequently underscored the ongoing struggle for LGBTI rights as one of the pressing human rights issues of our time, emphasizing the importance of liberty, dignity, and equality for all individuals, irrespective of their gender identity. Pant praised New Zealand's history in combating discrimination, drawing parallels and seeking inspiration for the movement in Asia Pacific.

The keynote documented the progressive steps taken by the government and the Blue Diamond Society, including policy collaborations and advocacy efforts, laying out a decade-long overview from 2001 to 2011, highlighting significant growth and impact. In doing so, Pant expressed the necessity of government support in ensuring LGBTI individuals' rights and freedoms are enshrined in law and the new constitution, while denouncing drafts and proposals that fail to do so.

Pant conveyed the importance of building upon these advances through strategic vision and action, including leveraging platforms such as the AsiaPacific Outgames for networking, showcasing LGBTI businesses, and inspiring regional and international advancement.

The address concluded on an optimistic note, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts by activists, NGOs, and alliances like the Outgames in shaping a more equitable future for LGBTI populations in Nepal and across the Asia Pacific region.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Maryan Street Sunil Pant

2010s, activism, asia pacific outgames (2011), blue diamond society, human rights, ilott theatre, maryan street, nepal, sunil pant, transcript online

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