Meet Resham from Butwal, Nepal. Resham is a courageous advocate working to protect LGBTQIA+ rights and create dignified employment opportunities for queer people.
Despite Nepal having strong LGBTQIA+ laws, there is a an implementation gap. People still face harassment and discrimination, with little protection.
After completing school in 2010, Resham discovered Bharosa Samaj, a local organisation supporting queer people. However, he was shocked and saddened to see the organisation struggling due to a funding crisis. The organisation only had a few more years before it would be forced to permanently close.
Resham became aware of how funding is manipulated by big organisations for their benefit. He started thinking how, as a local queer activist and peacebuilder, he could generate resources for queer activism to lead LGBTQIA+ movement in Lumbini province.
“We need to recognise community resources and explore ways to leverage those resources for our community. Donors come and go, but our society is and will be here, which has immense resources, including funds and non-financial assets, that can be used to expand our movement.”
In 2018, Resham co-founded Sahasi Kadam Nepal (SKN), queer, youth-led organisation working to create a society where all LGBTQIA+ people can have equal rights and dignity.
Because queer people often lack opportunities for work and are forced into unsafe labour, SKN provides skills enhancement opportunities so individuals can support themselves in securing safe work.
Resham and his SKN colleagues recently started working with Freedom Studio, learning about different forms of activism, such as artivism, and fundraising skills.
“With Freedom Studio’s support, we learned about creative ways to generate income and engage in activism. Today, we have built on Freedom Studio’s artivism to not only make people aware of our situation but also raise funding for our cause.”
For Resham, peace starts with equal rights for all regardless of sexual or gender identity.
