Australia supports LGBTI sports in Nepal

KATHMANDU, March 19: Australian Government provided Rs 1.646 million as grants to Blue Diamond Society (BDS), the leading LGBTI rights organization, under the Australian Sports Outreach Program on Monday.



The embassy issued a press release on Monday and said that the fund is provided to BDS to undertake a project aimed at using sports to tackle the social stigmas associated with the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender people and intersex community (LGBTI) in Nepal. [break]



"BDS will use the funds to organize national sporting competitions for LGBTIs to raise awareness about LGBTI rights and inclusion, to help to boost LGBTI´s self-esteem," states the press release.



Meanwhile, BDS issued a press release on Monday and said that BDS will implement the program featuring volleyball, football, athletics, martial arts, tennis and more.



According to BDS office, the national level event will take place in either April or May 2012. ASOP had funded Shangri-La Cricket Academy last year to conduct cricket coaching seminars and outreach programs to bring cricket to areas outside Kathmandu.

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