ILGA ASIA Conference in Nepal Concludes as the Nation slumbers:
Draws flaks from Nepal LGBT Pioneer and Activists!
February 28-
Strengthen connections among trans activists across Asia. Foster direct collaboration between key leaders within their local contexts. Identify gaps and challenges within the trans movement, particularly in research and medical provisions.
Enkhmaa Enkhbold, Mongolia LGBT Centre (Mongolia) Rukshana Kapali, Queer Youth Group (Nepal) Hua Boonyapisomparn, ThaiTGA and ThaiPath (Thailand) Dac Thi Kieu Hong (Rosie), IT’S T TIME (Vietnam)
Henry Tse, Transgender Equality Hong Kong (Hong Kong) Nguyen Quoc Anh (David), IT’S T TIME (Vietnam) Mr. C, Trans Brotherhood (China) Anu Shahi, Blue Diamond Society (Nepal)
Nikki Phinyapincha, Trans Talents Group (Thailand) Brenda R. Alegre, STRAP (Philippines) Pharchy Pugong, Miss Trans Global Philippines and STRAP (Philippines) Bindu Pariyar, Blue Diamond Society (Nepal)
Outcomes and Learnings?
ILGA Asia facebook post reads:
“Day 4: 10th ILGA Asia Conference
Criticism from within: Activists from Bangladesh clash out in public; LGBT Pioneer in Nepal’s thinly veiled condemnation!
One named MD Muntasair Rahman wrote in an irate tone,
“Hochimin openly supported the fascist Awami League in social media during the tragic events of July at Bangladesh, where state-sponsored violence led to the loss of countless innocent lives. Despite promoting the party’s ideology and benefiting from governmental privileges in the past, such support during a time of bloodshed is both alarming and unacceptable. Hochimin mocked the suffering of those who resisted state violence, sharing disparaging posts and photos of current advisors of interim government Asif Mahmud and Nahid Islam—key student leaders who were held at the DB office and photographed dining with DB officer Harun. The general public, as well as the community, is well aware of Hochimin’s stance. Hochimin is now widely recognized as a supporter of the Awami fascist regime, a label that reflects both her public alignment and her loss of credibility as someone advocating for the rights and safety of the community. These behaviors and alignments make it clear that Hochimin can no longer be regarded as a safe or trustworthy representation for the community. https://web.facebook.com/…/pfbid0NgipFvgtRfonabnkG96zNp…”
Hochemin Islam in turn responded with equal barb!
“MD Muntasir Rahman I won’t stoop to your level. But honestly, Oh please, Muntasir, can you take this to BBC or CNN? Maybe then you won’t have to copy-paste the same thing for six months. I actually feel sorry for you—so much effort, yet losing credibility every single day.
Sunil Babu Panta, Asia’s first openly gay MP from Nepal in the second Constituent Assembly, has expressed his disappointment veiled as a genuine concern at the lavishness of the conference. He wrote this on his Facebook wall:
“The ongoing ILGA Asia conference in Kathmandu, with its 600+ international attendees and venue at the luxurious Soaltee Kathmandu, has sparked debate regarding the prioritization of resources. In a climate of funding scarcity, due to President Trump’s sudden funding cuts, questions arise about whether such a lavish event represents the most effective use of donor support. Could those funds have been better directed towards bolstering the essential services provided by grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations across Asia?
A Nation in Slumber
There were practically no publicly visible voice raising concern or opposition to the LGBT and Trans activism here in Nepal; but it all changed with the first ever public live broadcast interaction program organized by Media Advocacy Forum-Nepal on April 5, 2025 at the Reporters Club Nepal.
This program kick started numerous other media interaction, closed seminars and public demonstrations by faith communities, political parties and fronts, and media forums and campaigns which involved Members of Parliaments, advocates and media persons in various ways.
