For Pride month, journalist Ankit Khadgi takes over Boju Bajai to bring you two tales, from the same city - tales of liberation and oppression; of love and longing; of personal freedom and collective demands. In the first segment, Ankit talks to Roselyn Thapa Magar, also known as Maya Indrani, about the drag scene in Nepal. In the second segment of the episode, we hear from two transgender sex workers sharing their life experiences.

Trigger warning: The episode includes mention of self harm and assault.

This episode has been conceived, hosted, produced, and edited by Ankit. He is a arts and culture reporter for The Kathmandu Post. You can follow his work on Twitter @ankitkhadgi

Follow Roselyn on Instagram at @manthatmakeup - instagram.com/manthatmakeup

You can also follow Blue Diamond Society's work and support their work with LGBTIQ+ communities in Nepal at www.bds.org.np

Ankit recently collaborated with Kaalo.101 to curate ‘WE ARE QUEER: VISUAL ARCHIVE PROJECT’. Check out the archive project at www.wearequeernepal.wixsite.com/thearchiveproject

Music by Flekke

Song credit:

Covergirl-RuPaul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RB_56WziA

RuPaul's Drag Race Opening Theme- RuPaul's Drag Race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RB_56WziA

Badhi Mushkil- Lajja

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3RB_56WziA

If you like our laugh and guff gaff, please do consider supporting our work on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bojubajai

Recommended reading:

‘For most transgender women, sex work remains the only way to make a living’ - https://tkpo.st/30LVA4U

'A Nepali drag show, with an American touch' - https://kathmandupost.com/art-culture/2019/06/12/a-nepali-drag-show-with-an-american-touch

‘Welcome to Pink Tiffany, Kathmandu’s first openly LGBTIQ-friendly restaurant and bar’- https://bit.ly/3x1XvS9

‘Murder of transwoman shows that things remain perilous for the LGBTIQ community’ - https://tkpo.st/378tyTD

‘Nepal might have made progress when it comes to queer rights but it still has a long way to go’ - https://tkpo.st/2AAIm1S

‘Socially isolated and in financial despair, LGBTIQ individuals are taking their own lives’ - https://tkpo.st/31l6X5X

‘Harassed, beaten, and jailed - Transgender individuals continue to face abuse at the hands of the Nepal Police’ - https://bit.ly/3dtuc2W

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