Stories of Change – Safety and Community Through Freedom Centres

Nepal has made remarkable progress in recognising the rights of sexual and gender minorities, yet everyday realities often lag behind legal promises—especially for Dalit communities. When caste-based discrimination intersects with queer identity, vulnerability multiplies. To address this, Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) brought together Dalit queer individuals from across Nepal, creating safe spaces, strengthening networks, and opening pathways to dignity and economic security

The Long Shadow of Caste and Intersectional Exclusion

The caste system has shaped Nepal’s social order for centuries, placing Dalits at the lowest tier and depriving them of education, healthcare, public amenities, and economic opportunities. Although caste-based discrimination was declared unconstitutional in 1951 and criminalised in 2011, its legacy persists. The 2015 constitution enshrines equality and non-discrimination as fundamental rights, yet many Dalits, sexual minorities, women, and other marginalised groups continue to experience exclusion in practice.

Nepal is considered one of Asia’s most progressive countries regarding LGBTIQA+ rights, but attitudes and implementation often fall short. Many queer individuals remain hidden, unable to live openly. For Dalit queer people, this invisibility is compounded by caste stigma, which leaves them facing multiple levels of discrimination—even within movements that advocate for equality.

Responding to the challenge

To break this cycle of invisibility and exclusion, SUS launched a year-long project titled “Pursuing the Rights and Dignity of Dalit Queer People with Art and Activism in Nepal,” funded by the KIOS Foundation from January 2023 to March 2024. This initiative integrated caste concerns into queer activism and vice versa, creating space for dialogue and visibility through art and advocacy.

  

Building on this success, SUS secured new funding for 2024–2026 to implement “Strengthening the Dalit Queer Movement to Claim Back Civic Space.” This project adopts a grassroots approach, forming constructive alliances and establishing a formal nationwide network—the Dalit Freedom Center—as an independent space for Dalit queer communities. The initiative aims to address gaps in constitutional and legal safeguards, expand allyships with national and international LGBTIQA+ movements, and provide vocational training alongside livelihood support to ensure economic security.

Pinky Gurung, former Chair of Blue Diamond Society, calls the initiative “an eye-opening intervention.” She explains:

Queer Dalits face discrimination and violence nationwide—even within LGBTIQA+ communities—often remaining silent due to economic hardships. These centers provide safe, impactful spaces for Dalits and non-Dalits alike, countering anti-gender movements and funding cuts in Nepal.

Dalit Freedom Centres – The Heart and Haven of the Movement

As part of this work, SUS established six Dalit Queer Freedom Centres across Nepal’s Bagmati, Madhesh, Karnali, Lumbini, Koshi, and Sudurpaschim provinces. These centres have become safe havens where Dalit queer individuals can share experiences, access psychosocial counselling, and build life skills. They offer training for income generation, organize monthly meetings on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and host dialogues on caste, gender, and sexuality. Pride celebrations and campus outreach activities have further increased visibility and fostered intersectional awareness.

 

Each centre serves 15 to 25 visitors monthly, providing counselling, training, and stronger peer networks. Expansion plans aim to reach an additional 150 Dalit queer individuals per province. Freedom Centres are equipped with basic utilities such as drinking water, meeting spaces, internet access, and psychosocial support. Coordinators facilitate regular meetings and connect members with stakeholders for additional assistance. Through these efforts, Dalit queer individuals are not only receiving support—they are becoming agents of change.

 

For many participants, the Freedom Centers have been life-changing.

Baju Rai from Jhapa says:

Attending has allowed me to meet and understand other Dalit Queer friends—and myself.

Sailesh Nepali, a trans woman, adds:

I used to feel uncomfortable opening up, but now I feel at ease. The organisation has brought significant positive changes to my life.

Riyasha, a trans woman from Bardiya, shares:

Samari Utthan Sewa has given us a shelter where we can openly share our feelings and pain. Despite facing mistreatment even from my family, I now feel happy because I’ve met you all—the SUS team.

Anu from Kailali echoes this sentiment:

Being a Dalit and transgender means facing multiple layers of discrimination. But things have started to change. The Freedom Center is well-managed, and we feel safe, comfortable, and respected there.

The impact is tangible. Dalit queer people now have spaces where they feel safe and heard. They have gained skills that strengthen their economic independence and resilience. The integration of caste issues into queer activism has shifted the narrative, ensuring that Dalit queer voices are no longer sidelined but central to the movement. These centres have become engines of empowerment, fostering solidarity and amplifying advocacy at local and national levels.

Looking Ahead: Towards Genuine Equality and Visibility

In the long term, the Dalit Freedom Center network will serve as a platform for organizing collective power and making visible the multidimensional discrimination faced by Dalit queer individuals. It will advance intersectional discourse and challenge structural exclusion. As members grow more empowered and centres become better equipped, these spaces will continue to transform lives—turning constitutional promises of equality into lived realities.

KIOS has supported SUS since 2022, with funding from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ development cooperation.

This article was written in cooperation with SUS. Read more about SUS and the work they do here.