NEPAL, Kathmandu 2011- Blue Diamond Society.

 I participated in the Jack Picone/Stephen Dupont Workshop in Kathmandu July 2011, Jack and Stephen are wonderful tutors and inspiration to work with, highly recommended! 

I feel I choose a challenging subject, to make my documentary but it was a fantastic experience. 

The photo essay is of a small group of volunteers and members of the Blue Diamond Society. They all have their own personal story and are part of the LGBT ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender ) community that the BDS helps create for gender minorities to live with equal rights, dignity and to have hope and opportunities.  

Megnah, Ashmita, Ditahman and Roxanne were my portrait subjects, they were amazing, they let me into their life and homes to photograph them in their private world, we became good friends, they are fantastic people and were wonderful to work with.

The Blue Diamond Society was established at 2001, to raise awareness for sexual minorities in Nepal and to improve the sexual health, human rights and wellbeing of sexual and gender minorities including third genders, gay men, bisexuals, lesbians and other men who have sex with men. The BDS provides education, support and advice to Nepal’s Gay community and runs the country’s only AIDS/HIV prevention programme, partially thanks to a $40,000 US grant donated by Sir Elton John. The programme includes psycho-social counselling, raising awareness and documenting human rights violations.

Some of the violations documented by the BDS are of murder, rape and all varieties of physical and verbal abuse.

VISION

* Societies, which respect and value each sexual and gender minorities. * Societies where each sexual and gender minorities can live with equal right and dignity. * Societies where all sexual and gender minorities have hope and opportunities.

MISSION

* Blue diamond society fights for sexual and gender minority’s social justice and right. * We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to the lives of sexual and gender minorities in Nepal and beyond.

 

The founder of the BDS, Sunil Babu Pant (pictured centre) was instrumental in making his country the first in South East Asia to protect gay rights. In a landmark ruling last December, Nepals Supreme Court, gaurenteed sexual minorities the same rights as other citizens. Sunil is also the first Gay Man elected to Nepals's 601- member Constituent. Mr Babu is now part of a governmental body responsible for drafting the Nations new constitution.

Members of the BDS.

© Susie Hagon

Megnah

© Susie Hagon

Ashmita

© Susie Hagon

Ditahman

© Susie Hagon

Megnah, Ditahman and Roxanne at the Blue Diamond Society.