MUMBAI: “It is about time” were the first words Akhilesh said he told his boyfriend Andrew when they found out about a sports competition to be held in Nepal for the gay community. “I think it is a good idea and something that will help promote the gay community as not anti-sport,” he told Bikyamasr.com on Monday. Now, a Nepalese organization is to launch the meet in an effort to promote LGBT rights in Asia, and participants are expected from across the region, including here in India. “If I was a better athlete sure, but I do know some people who will try,” he added. The organizing Blue Diamond Society-Nepal said in a statement that the two-week sport meet will take place in in September and feature sports including volleyball, football, athletics, martial arts and tennis. “The aims for organizing this ‘Blue Diamond National Sport Competition – 2012′ are to mainstream LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, third gender and intersex) into the larger society, promote healthy life styles, encourage physical fitness, and promote health mentally and spiritually so that one can serve humanity better,” the statement said. The president of the society, and country's first openly gay lawmaker, Sunil Babu Pant, said Nepal's top coaches would provide training to the participants. Nepal's Supreme Court ruled in 2007 to implement laws guaranteeing gay rights. However, the Blue Diamond Society says the verdict has so far not been implemented. A government official on Monday told Bikyamasr.com that “we have not done anything that contradicts our rulings and legislation, it is an education thing and I do think this sporting event could help people get to know the real gay community.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/s3fLQ Tags: Blue Diamond, LGBT, Nepal, Sport Section: Asia, Latest News, LGBT, South Asia, Sport
