Blue Diamond Society members sheltering in a tent. Photo: Blue Diamond Society. The first installment from a New Zealand fund to help lgbti people in Nepal has been sent to the quake-hit nation. Appeal organiser Jack Byrne says early in the fundraising campaign, NZ$850 was raised. Since then another $350 has been donated and $250 has been pledged by Council of Trade Unions Out@Work delegates, from money they raised at their conference last weekend. The money is going directly to the Blue Diamond Society, which Byrne says is family to thousands of sexual and gender minorities in Nepal. Spokeswoman Manisha Dhakal has offered thanks, for the "continuous support for the lgbti community in Nepal in this critical moment". She says people had just been trying to get their lives back to normal when the second big quake hit. A New Zealand appeal has been set up for those who want to help lgbti people in Nepal following the devastating quake. The Blue Diamond Society is providing care and support hospice needs food for HIV positive people, and emergency support services to metis, who identify as third gender. It also needs to cover basic supplies, such as tents, clothes, blankets, umbrellas, water, food and medicine, plus fuel. In the longer term it wants to meet other basic needs by providing housing and employment programmes for lgbti people in Nepal and will also need to repair its damaged office and care and support building. The New Zealand appeal can be found here If you are outside New Zealand, you can donate to the International Gay
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 16th May 2015 - 4:22pm