Bridges to justice: case study of LGBTI rights in Nepal

Twelve years after Nepal’s LGBTI rights movement became formally organized, the announcement of a contingent of openly-LGBTI political candidates came not as a surprise, but also not as a guarantee. While the movement has enjoyed success and improved the lives of LGBTI people, Nepal’s protracted political instability has meant activism continues as a daily struggle to maintain its foothold and continue to chart progress. In the face of political uncertainty, as well as demands and expectations from donors, media, and the government, activists have used a variety of tactics—not always conventional—to fight for consistent human rights outcomes and better lives for LGBTI people. How did we get here? Where is the movement today? What kinds of action and innovation spurred the changes that have occurred in Nepal? What types of support are needed to continue on this trajectory? And what can Nepal teach us about potential in-roads for LGBTI action and inclusion in other contexts? This report examines Nepal’s contemporary LGBTI rights movement as a case study for effective activism. It considers the circumstances that contributed to the formalization of the movement, the legal and social progress activists have been able to achieve, and what this means for the lives of LGBTI people in Nepal today.