Queer youth in Nepal use comics to express their identities

New platforms are being used to reclaim identities, tap the power of expression, and challenge societal notions and stereotypes. One such example is the virtual comic workshop. To celebrate June as the #PrideMonth, the United Nations with the support from the British Council organized a four-day virtual comic workshop for queer youth in Nepal. 

The virtual comic workshop, facilitated by Virangana Comics Collective, kicked off from June 24-28 and brought together queer youth (ages 19 to 25), from all seven provinces of Nepal in an exploration of storytelling through comics. The participants of the workshop were guided through a journey into queer literature, comics, and storytelling, and creating a safe space for participants to express themselves.

“Expressing what's within one's heart is easier said than done. The dilemma of wanting to put it out there yet scared to show how vulnerable you are can really affect one's life. This workshop has given me a new perspective on expression with unspoken words and how metaphors can be used”, opined Ruby Tamang, one of the participants of the workshop.

Through sessions on story writing, character drawing and storyboarding and text placement, the participants were given some topics for developing their comics, many chose traveling back in time to reclaim their right - right to express, right to rectify the mistakes, and right to stand up for themselves and others through the comics. 

Another participant, Shailee Chaudhary who has been challenging the patriarchal mindset in her community shared, “I have observed that the challenges faced by women and/or non- binary people in the domestic and professional life are immense, and thus, a greater amount of courage is required to overcome stigmas related to sexual and gender minorities”.

In Nepal, a Supreme Court ruling in 2007 recognized the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community as fundamental rights and granted protection to gender and sexual minorities. But the members of the LGBTIQ+ community continue to face stigma, discrimination, and harassment for defying heteronormative understandings of gender and sexuality.  

“Comics is a tool to move people and minds, create interesting discourses on multiple aspects of societies and cultures, as well as a form of activism”, said one of the instructors of the workshop Promina Shrestha.  “Comics also give agency to tell stories from personal perspectives, experiences, and histories,” she added.

Badal Lama joined the workshop in the hope to create a new world of freedom by using comics as an avenue for expression. They further added, “A world which is non-judgmental and where you can be anything you want to be.”

Every year the United Nations in Nepal together with its partners mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)) on 17 to advocate for the rights and stand in solidarity with the LGBTIQ community.

This year the UN observed a month-long celebration of the IDAHOBIT continuing various activities from May 17 and closing with the comic workshop. Under the theme, #BreaktheSilence, the activities were designed to share how the LGBTIQ community is represented in Nepal and empower them to express through powerful, artistic mediums.