On Saturday, Nepal's first gay beauty
pageant crowned the nation's first “Mr. Handsome.”
According to the AFP, 18 young men
competed for the title.
The men strutted across the stage in a
Kathmandu auditorium as hundreds cheered on.
Biswo Raj Adhikari was crowned “Mr.
Handsome.” He is a 24-year-old sociology student from Makwanpur
district.
“My family and friends will be proud
of me as I will be able to inspire other gays who hesitate to come
out openly,” he
told the AFP.
Other titles handed out included “Mr.
Friendly,” “Mr. Personality” and “Mr. Red Ribbon” for
aiding in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The event was organized by The Blue
Diamond Society (BDS), a leading LGBT advocate in Nepal.
BDS President Sunil Babu Pant said:
“This program has encouraged gay men to reveal their hidden talents
and will create more awareness about gender and sexuality. Although
treatment of gays has improved in recent years, many are still not
willing to come out openly.”
Following a landmark 2007 court ruling,
Nepal is considered to have the region's most progressive polices
toward gays.