Prime Minister Oli’s remarks on LGBTQIA+ issue rattles members of the community

Confusing rhetoric about the community perpetuates ignorance and prejudice among the broader population, and trickles down to the daily lives of queer individuals, activists say.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli went viral last week for not knowing things. Asked about how his government would support the LGBTQIA+ community, Oli admitted, “I do not know much about this issue.” This can be considered unusual for a politician who has offered his takes on everything from the domains of Hindu religious epics to linguistics.