Homoerotic, Homosexual, and Bisexual Behaviors in Nepal

In Nepal information about same-sex behaviors and relationships is rare. According to both professionals and other individuals living in Kathmandu, homosexuality "does not exist" in Nepal. The International Lesbian and Gay Association states that same-sex sexual behavior between two men is against the law in Nepal. As in many other countries, sexual activity between two women is not mentioned. People visiting the country who are caught engaging in same-sex behaviors can face expulsion.
The true prevalence, real or perceived, of same-sex relationships and sexual behaviors in Nepal depends on the person with whom you speak. Some will acknowledge that "these types of relationships exist," but that there is no community for it. Others will say that there is an underground community in Kathmandu. Still others will insist that there are no lesbian, gay, or bisexual people in Nepal. Health professionals, however, are beginning to acknowledge same-sex behaviors, at least between men. This is happening primarily within the context of screening for HIV. Physical intimacy, however, appears to be common between people of the same sex. Adult men and women may walk arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand. A teen girl might sit with her head on a female friend’s shoulder; two male adolescents might sit with fingers interlaced, lovingly stroking one another’s fingers. However, there was no perceptible identity attached to these behaviors as being homoerotic or implying anything about a person’s sexual orientation. The extent to which intimacy translates into same-sex sexual behavior is unknown.
The first Nepalese gay rights group, the Nepal Queer Society, was created in 1993. However, there is no readily available information on whether the group is still in existence, or what their activities are or have been. The Internet has also begun to provide a source of information and support for lesbian, gay, and bisexual Nepalese individuals. Gay Cyber Nepal and Queer Nepal are two sites created for gay or bisexual men. Other websites have been created by South and Southeast Asian individuals not living in Nepal or India, which seem to provide more of a community for people living abroad than there would be in that region.