Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
Nepal
The Blue Diamond Society (BDS) is Nepal’s leading LGBTQI+ rights organization, founded in 2001 to advocate for equality, dignity, and justice for sexual and gender minorities. BDS combines HIV prevention and care services with policy advocacy, human rights monitoring, and creative initiatives that amplify the voices of LGBTQI+ youth.
“For over two decades, Blue Diamond Society (BDS) has been a leader in advancing the human rights, health promotion, and empowerment of LGBTQI+ in Nepal and the region. However, despite these significant achievements, critical gaps remain, and we continue to expand our scope to address the new and emerging challenges faced by the LGBTQI+ community in a rapidly changing global landscape.”
— Manisha Dhakal, Executive Director
Vision
Nepalese society where gender and sexual minorities enjoy their human rights and live a dignified
life.
Mission
Enhance the capacity of gender and sexual minority communities, and collaborate with like-minded individuals, agencies, and alliances to fight for justice and rights of gender and sexual minorities in all their diversity.
Our strategic plan includes 5 key pillars
Core values are what support the vision, shape the culture and reflect what the organization values. They are the essence of the company’s identity – the principles, beliefs or philosophy of values. These values shall guide the organization in its decision making, educate others about what the company is about and clarify the identity of the company.
- Advocacy & Human Rights
- Health and Well-Being
- Capacity development & Economic Stability
- Environment. Climate Action & Humanitarian Assistance
- Research
Founded in 2001, the Blue Diamond Society has played a pivotal role in challenging discriminatory laws and advancing legal recognition for gay, transgender and other sexual minority communities in Nepal. It promotes sexual health education, provides HIV prevention and care services, and offers counselling and support to people living with or affected by HIV. Through sustained efforts, BDS has become a cornerstone of Nepal’s LGBTQI+ movement, fostering inclusion, protection and visibility across the country.
BDS has a long-standing partnership with the Government of Nepal and has linked more than 15,000 community members to national HIV databases and government-supported services.
As Nepal partner of the EJAF-supported CODE Strategies project, BDS:
- Launched the testKTM website and digital campaign, reaching over 12,000 community members through influencers and online engagement.
- Organised Pride Month drag shows for HIV awareness attended by over 200 people, including UN delegates and government representatives.
- Convened a National CLM Dialogue with UNAIDS and trained 32 government health providers on person-centred care.
- Delivered year-one service results of 4,439 people reached, 1,374 tested and 392 initiated on PrEP.
The project also helped BDS leverage new funding: a grant from GATE to counter anti-gender and anti-rights movements, and a grant from ViiV Healthcare for a pilot chemsex harm reduction initiative among key populations in Nepal.
Looking ahead, BDS is advocating for the integration of community-led monitoring into national health systems and working towards Nepal’s 95-95-95 targets, while exploring domestic funding to reduce donor dependency.
Highlights of our recent achievements:
In June 2026, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a final, binding directive ordering the government to update the national civil code and grant marriage equality.
The Government of Nepal has taken a significant and long-awaited step toward equality and inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community by renaming the ministry previously known as the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens to the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities, and Social Protection.
About the project
Meet the people behind the project
