Word: Richard Smith

Nepal this month shows the world it’s speedy evolution in to becoming the most accepting and modern thinking of countries as it joins the, thankfully, expanding group of countries to grant same-sex civil partnerships/ marriages.

Pushed by Nepal’s gay MP Sunil Babu Pant the Supreme Court approved same-sex marriage and set about drafting a law allowing it which has now come in to effect. Homosexuality was still illegal in Nepal just a few years back in 2007 and for years was an extremely conservative country whose security forces persecuted homosexuals during the reign of King Gyanendra and also from the Maoist rebels.

Pant, who is also leader of Nepal’s gay right movement (and notably Asia’s only out openly gay member of parliament) also launched Pink Mountain, a travel company that offers wedding ceremonies for the regional and international LGBT community. Now you can get hitched in the most beautiful scenery of the Himalayas at the base of Everest.

In his interview with UK’s Daily Telegraph;

“Most Asian countries don’t welcome gay visitors, so we can have the maximum benefit for the Nepal economy which is fragile after years of war… The government is hoping to increase the number of tourists from 400,000 to one million next year and has taken a positive attitude to welcoming gay and lesbian visitors to help meet their ambitious target.”

This may seem, at first consideration, that Nepal has changed their constitution for the benefit of ‘pink dollar tourism’, but think again, changing a country’s constitution is no ‘baby’ step when legalizing gay marriage in a country of a previously strict conservative past. I have worked with numerous Nepalese during my 13 years in Hong Kong and even with many of them living in ‘eye-opening’ Hong Kong, especially with things you can witness in the F&B Industry, the guys especially tried to claim that there is no such thing as a gay Nepalese man…

More to the point how great is it that Nepal is evolving and developing in leaps and bounds and opening its arms out to LGBT holidaymakers and travelers asking them to chose their country for their most special of days – their wedding.

The Proposition 8ers should take note as the USA took one step forward and many steps back in their withdrawal of same-sex marriages in certain states.

As for Hong Kong – we still have a hard battle ahead just for equal rights in the most basic of areas. The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission stated: “On June 17, 2009, attempts were made to include same-sex couples in the scope of the Domestic Violence Ordinance (DVO). Again, there was fierce opposition from conservative Christian groups and lawmakers which resulted in a year-long delay in the introduction of the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2009 into the Legislative Council. The opposition argued that if the amendment were passed, it might be interpreted as a sign that Hong Kong will recognize same-sex unions and promote same-sex relationships…Hong Kong law does not confer any legal status to same-sex relationships and only recognizes heterosexual couples and heterosexual cohabitants.”

Hong Kong needs to wake up and smell the coffee! The administrations’ weak stance on sexual orientation needs to be addressed, as well as the descrimination between same-sex and opposite-sex sexual relations protecting the equal rights of sexual minorities and finally enact legislation to recognising same-sex couples. Maybe then Hong Konger will then be able to see a future where same-sex partners can enjoy getting hitched in Hong Kong. And just think what a boost to the economy that would bring… all those weddings and parties and celebrations… is that a pink dollar is see…?