Nepal Celebrates Historic Pride Amid Foreign Aid Challenges

Nepal has marked a significant milestone by hosting its first Pride parade since the reduction of foreign aid funding by the administration of former President Donald Trump. On August 10, 2025, hundreds of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies gathered in Kathmandu during the Gai Jatra festival, a traditional event that commemorates deceased relatives, to advocate for queer rights and visibility.

The vibrant parade featured participants holding various flags, including Pride, Trans Pride, Lesbian Pride, and Asexual Pride banners. Signs displayed powerful messages, such as “Pride for all intersectional queer identities,” “Transgender men are men,” and “Transgender women are women.” A large Progress Pride flag was prominently carried through the streets, symbolizing solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community.

The event comes at a time when the community has felt the impact of cuts to foreign aid, particularly from USAID. As of March 2025, over 80 percent of USAID programs were cancelled, significantly affecting support systems for Nepal’s LGBTQ+ population. Many help centers that provided crucial services have closed, leaving thousands without essential support, according to reports from the Independent.

In the wake of the funding cuts, local organizations that previously collaborated with USAID to offer HIV prevention, safe sex counselling, and sexual health screenings have struggled to operate. These funds were considered “vital” for the daily functioning of clinics and support centers that distributed free condoms and provided follow-up treatment for individuals living with HIV. The USAID office in Nepal remains closed, further complicating access to necessary resources.

Despite these challenges, the LGBTQ+ community in Nepal has made significant strides in recent years. In 2023, Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage could be legally registered. This decision followed the historic recognition of a lesbian couple’s marriage, marking a pivotal moment in Nepal’s journey toward equality. Nepal became the second Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, following Taiwan, which passed a law legalizing marriage equality in 2019. Just this year, Thailand also enacted marriage equality, becoming the third country in Asia and the first in Southeast Asia to do so.

As Nepal continues to navigate the complexities of LGBTQ+ rights and foreign aid challenges, events like the Pride parade serve as a testament to resilience and solidarity within the community. Participants and supporters alike expressed their commitment to ensuring that the voices of all intersectional queer identities are heard and valued.

The atmosphere at the parade was one of joy and determination, as members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies celebrated their rights while advocating for a more inclusive society.