by Rex Wockner
International News
Well-known gay activist Sunil Babu Pant, 35, has been elected to Nepal's 601-member Constituent Assembly, which will draft the nation's new constitution and also function as parliament during the drafting process.
Pant was not elected directly, but was chosen by the Communist Party of Nepal (United) as one of its representatives when the party received enough votes to secure five proportional-representation seats in the assembly.
"We are honored to send Pant as our representative," General Secretary Ganesh Shah told The Times of India. "We hope it will improve the lives of a people who are the most repressed in Nepal, disowned both by society and their own families."
In a note posted on a gay-activism mailing list, Pant said: "The support and solidarity I have from locally and abroad will make my job easier and (I) hope the flag of the LGBT communities will continue flying high in Nepal and in other countries too. Friends and activists like you from all over the world have (been) my source of inspiration."
