KATHMANDU, Nepal–Sunil Babu Pant, an advocate for the rights of sexual minorities is among 278 nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Pant, a former Constituent Assembly (CA) member and first gay politician in the country, is one of the several gay rights activists and organizations nominated along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
Pant, 42-year-old set up Blue Diamond Society, an organization fighting for rights of lesbians, gays, bi-sexual and transgendered (LGBTs). Panta is said to be responsible for the 2007 Supreme Court verdict which asked government to grant equal status to sexual minorities.
Members of LGBTs in the country are entitled to get their citizenship certificates, passports among other significant documents after the SC’s ruling.
Meanwhile Panta said he was happy stating that Norwegian parliamentarians recognized the LGBTs struggle.
Along with Panta, gay rights activists Igor Kochetkov from Russia, Frank Mugisha of Uganda and International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association are among the list of nominees, according to PRIO
Likewise, Pope Francis, US leaker Edward Snowden and Pakistan’s young education crusader Malala Yousafzai are also among the list of nominees given by PRIO.