This Saturday GayNZ.com launches an appeal to fund an impoverished Nepalese gay rights activist and athlete to attend the March Asia Pacific OutGames and gay rights conference in Wellington. Meet Roshan... Roshan Mahato was born in a traditional village of the Tharu people, who are the original inhabitants of previously malaria-infested zones along what is now the Nepal-India border. He says his village lies in a lovely valley area separated from modern encroachment by the Chitwan National Park. That isolation also means the village is without adequate medical and other services and that the schooling is not at the level of the cities. "I remember the first time crossing the Park to our main district city, astounded to see two and three storey buildings. On the other hand, I had a wonderful childhood, with a dear mother and embracing village spirit. We had our own culture, not so dominated by the Hindu and social caste differences in many other parts of Nepal. Sadly, though, my father never acknowledged me. I do not know why," he says. At the age of 16, the determined teenager set off on his own for Kathmandu, cleaning toilets at a small hotel to pay for university. By the time he earned a degree in sociology, he had become a hotel receptionist with managerial responsibilities. A passionate advocate While he was working at the hotel, his interest in GLBT rights and sociology was noticed by a foreign volunteer with the Blue Diamond Society, a community-based sexual health, HIV/AIDS, advocacy service for local networks of sexual minorities in Nepal. He is now working for the society and is enrolled in a Master's program in Sociology at Nepal's oldest institution of higher education, Tribhuvan University. "While I am dedicated to advancing the human rights for sexual and gender minorities (including those relevant to HIV prevention and care, education, economic opportunity) and eliminating stigma and discrimination, I am dedicated to the democratic and socio-economic development of my very poor country," he says. Mahato founded the Sexual and Gender Minority Student Forum of Nepal in 2009, and is the Secretary for the new Foundation for Peace, Environment and Development. "After I have finished my Master's and given at least two more years in my BDS and other responsibilities, I would like to have the benefit of further advanced study outside Nepal. That way I can gain perspective and return to Nepal in an even more effective capacity." Being GLBT in Nepal Mahato says many of Nepal's cultures had traditional roles for transgender people, for example the Tharu culture dances which included "lady boys". "But in contemporary life we had no education or understanding of other than male dominated heterosexuality. As modern communications brought some awareness, stigma and discrimination developed against gay men, lesbians and transgender people." He says boys and men have more freedoms to circulate and cruise, but were having sex without any knowledge of STDs or prevention – "nor the psycho-social supports that enable a full life for anyone." "Most families rejected sexual and gender minority children who were overt, thus transgendered were abused and often thrown out. Gay boys and men could lead double lives. Lesbians had no freedoms for double life, and were usually outcast and denied education and jobs if they understood themselves and were courageous to declare their relationships." Mahato says marriage is an obligation in all the Nepali cultures. Even families who know their children are homosexual or trangender will force them into straight marriages, that is if they don't throw them out. "My first session at the Blue Diamond Society was to join a "retreat" group that was in progress. The participants (whom I had not yet met) were asked to share some of the pain in their lives. There was dead silence to the request. To my own surprise, I rose and declared for the first time to anyone that I was gay. I described the confusion, stress and suffering that I experienced. After that, I never looked back. "Joining BDS, I am one of the few gay men who is out and public, speaking to all sorts of audiences and appearing in television ads against stigma. It was a huge step, but the psychological freedom and the ability to help others by my example are great rewards. I am proud, too, that my family has learned and I have not been rejected. Indeed, my nephews and nieces have joined some of our education and advocacy activities. "As I am "out" gay man, I have been well treated, especially thanks to my work with BDS. But I understand the fears of most to come out, and so they have difficulties. Many of our wonderful BDS staff are gay, effective peer educators with regard to HIV, key to our support groups for LGBTI. But most are not yet out to their families and others." Progress and challenges Since its creation in 2001, BDS has driven awareness of and protection for sexual and gender minorities, including their needs in regards to HIV/AIDS which were not addressed by any other organisations. Mahato co-ordinates the Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities, which unites autonomous grassroots organisations in a third of the country's 75 districts. He says a 2007 Supreme Court victory which directed the Government to insure LGBTI equality and prevent discrimination, and the election of gay MP and BDS founder Sunil Babu Pant to the new Parliament charged with creating a democratic constitution, are landmark and hailed elsewhere. "However, our advances do not change the fact that life is a struggle for most Nepalis, and our communities still suffer for understandable culture prejudices, lack of education and employment opportunities. Our interim government is often paralyzed, as is the country by Parliament's paralysis, strikes and demonstrations. Global warming is felt as our fabled glaciers melt, water and electricity are rationed. Many of our young are forced for economic reasons to take jobs in other countries, often staying away from families and friends for years at a time. "On the one hand such a situation make keep old prejudices alive as escape valves. On the other hand, in areas where our work is known, people - including officials and police who used to be against us - have seen how we work for the rights and enlightenment of all - not just ourselves, and we have become allies! "We have a long way to go, but our progress is noteworthy and foreigners tell us that we inspire them. While all that we do and have done is from the commitment, dedication, courage and intelligence of our grassroots communities, foreign financial assistance has been and continues to be essential. Our salaries are modest, even subsistence for Nepal! And much of our effort is done by volunteers who themselves barely have basic human needs fulfilled." Mahato was among five dozen LGBT activists were nabbed from outside the official Government building Singha Durbar in September, while waiting for an appointment with Home Minister Bhim Rawal. They had been given verbal confirmation of an appointment with the Home Minister, who they hoped to meet to express their concern over the government's refusal to issue citizenship certificates to members of third gender, despite a 2007 directive to do so from the Supreme Court. The group was detained for several hours. "I felt proud while I was spending my time in custody. Because many journalists and human rights advocates came to support us. Our LGBTI friends also came there to give us some food and water. When my friends told me some of our friends had beaten in the same custody the previous month then I was scared," he says . Mahato was not charged with any crime and has since been able to meet with Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, along with more than 20 LGBTI people. Outgames and Human Rights Conference "To travel to Wellington for the Games and the Conference will be so energizing for me! In Kathmandu we have not only the huge load of our work, but the hindrances of power and water shortages, transport and food difficulties, and the failure of our Parliament." Mahato says to meet in Wellington in unity with diverse groups who mirror what BDS does in Nepal and will be a further lesson for him and his country. "My own contributions will be most valuable in the Human Rights Conference but I am eager to give the 5 km run my all. While I have not had the time to be a sportsman, from Tharu roots to my constant 'green' walking life in Nepal, I am eager to see how well I can do in the 5 km! "I cannot adequately express my appreciation for the organisers' interests in what I might contribute and to how the experience can benefit me and our communities in Nepal. Our organizations are run on very transparent and tight budgets, without any room to provide for staff - even leaders' - travel abroad. My own monthly salary is about US$125, so it is obviously impossible for me to fund my participation." This Saturday GayNZ.com will launch an appeal to raise $4,000 to enable this worthy activist and athlete to attend the Asia Pacific OutGames in Wellington in March. We hope that, in the spirit of Sir Edmund Hillary's support for the Nepalese people, the New Zealand glbt community will contribute towards this worthy objective. Donation Link Jacqui Stanford - 6th January 2011