Blue Diamond Society

The Blue Diamond Society (BDS) is Nepal's most important LGBTQ+ organisation and the driving force behind the country's remarkable legal progress. Founded in 2001 by Sunil Babu Pant, it was central to the 2007 Supreme Court ruling that decriminalised same-sex relations, the 2015 constitutional recognition of a third gender, and the 2023 court directive on marriage equality. BDS is not a nightlife venue — it is a working NGO. From its head office in the Dhumbarahi area (with additional premises historically around Lazimpat), it runs HIV and sexual-health programmes, drop-in support, legal advocacy and community outreach across Nepal. Each year around the Gai Jatra festival in August it helps organise Kathmandu's Pride march, one of Asia's oldest. Travellers who want to understand or support the local community can reach out through the organisation's official channels; visits are best arranged in advance rather than treated as a casual drop-in.