Nepal Elects
First Gay Politician

Nepal's first openly gay politician was selected to represent a small communist party in the country's new constituent assembly, a party official told Agence France-Presse on Thursday.

Ganesh Shah, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, said that Sunil Babu Pant was chosen to lead the party to "ensure the rights of gay and other minority groups. He will be the first person to represent Nepal's gay community."

Pant currently heads the only gay rights group in Nepal, the Blue Diamond Society.

"Representing a sexual minority, I will make sure the new constitution protects sexual groups, people with disabilities, small indigenous castes, and others," Pant told AFP.

The Communist Party of Nepal has five seats in the 601-member body, which is slated to write the nation's constitution. (The Advocate)